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Fiction

At Tales you will find a wide selection of fiction books, that will take you on adventures beyond our imagination; to visit magical kingdoms, historic scenes, romantic settings or simply take you on a journey into a different everyday life and teach you a thing or two about life and about yourself. Fiction literature makes you reflect upon life, yourself and others whether it is in the form of a historical novel, a romantic tale, a comic, a fantasy book or a collection of poems. You find them all here from the niches, and the classics to the fiction book best sellers. The only limit is your imagination.
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  • Save 10%
    by Philip Larkin
    £8.99 - 9.49

    Philip Larkin (1922-1985) remains England's best-loved poet - a writer matchlessly capable of evoking his native land and of touching all readers from the most sophisticated intellectual to the proverbial common reader. The late John Betjeman observed that 'this tenderly observant poet writes clearly, rhythmically, and thoughtfully about what all of us can understand'. Behind this modest description lies a poet who made greatness look, in Milton's prescription, 'simple, sensuous and passionate'.This collection, first published in 1967, contains many of his best-loved poems, including The Whitsun Weddings, An Arundel Tomb, Days, Mr Bleaney and MCMXIV.

  • Save 11%
    by Georges Simenon
    £7.99

    'His artistry is supreme' John Banville'What was he doing there? A hundred times, in the middle of an investigation, he'd had the same feeling of helplessness or, rather, futility. He would find himself abruptly plunged into the lives of people he had never met before, and his job was to discover their most intimate secrets. This time, as it happened, it wasn't even his job. He was the one who had chosen to come, because a teacher had waited for him for hours in the Purgatory at the Police Judiciaire.'When a school teacher from a small coastal town near La Rochelle asks Maigret to help prove he is innocent of murder, the Inspector returns with him to his insular community and finds the residents closing ranks to conceal the truth.'Compelling, remorseless, brilliant' John Gray

  • Save 15%
    by Victor Hugo
    £10.99 - 18.99

    Victor Hugo's tale of injustice, heroism and love follows the fortunes of Jean Valjean, an escaped convict determined to put his criminal past behind him. But his attempts to become a respected member of the community are constantly put under threat: by his own conscience, when, owing to a case of mistaken identity, another man is arrested in his place; and by the relentless investigations of the dogged policeman Javert. It is not simply for himself that Valjean must stay free, however, for he has sworn to protect the baby daughter of Fantine, driven to prostitution by poverty. A compelling and compassionate view of the victims of early nineteenth-century French society, Les Mis rables is a novel on an epic scale.

  • Save 24%
    by Angela Macmillan
    £17.49

    AudenMany of the most popular works in the English language celebrate love in all its forms: that heady first flush, the agony of heartbreak, joyful reunions, the love of a parent for a child... And what better way to share these beautiful pieces than to read them aloud, to someone you love?

  • Save 11%
    by ONE
    £7.99

    One of the most eagerly-anticipated new series finally gets a UK release!

  • Save 11%
    by ONE
    £7.99

  • Save 17%
    by Jackson J. Campbell
    £24.99

  • Save 11%
    - Inspector Maigret #42
    by Georges Simenon
    £7.99

    "First published in French as Maigret a peur by Presses de la Cit e 1953."--Title page verso.

  • Save 24%
    - The Persian Book of Kings
    by Abolqasem Ferdowsi
    £18.99

    The definitive translation by Dick Davis of the great national epic of Iran-now newly revised and expanded to be the most complete English-language editionA Penguin Classic Dick Davis-"our pre-eminent translator from the Persian" (The Washington Post)-has revised and expanded his acclaimed translation of Ferdowsi's masterpiece, adding more than 100 pages of newly translated text. Davis's elegant combination of prose and verse allows the poetry of the Shahnameh to sing its own tales directly, interspersed sparingly with clearly marked explanations to ease along modern readers. Originally composed for the Samanid princes of Khorasan in the tenth century, the Shahnameh is among the greatest works of world literature. This prodigious narrative tells the story of pre-Islamic Persia, from the mythical creation of the world and the dawn of Persian civilization through the seventh-century Arab conquest. The stories of the Shahnameh are deeply embedded in Persian culture and beyond, as attested by their appearance in such works as The Kite Runner and the love poems of Rumi and Hafez. For more than sixty-five years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,500 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.

  • - A Novel
    by PETER CLINES
    £16.99

  • Save 10%
    by Madeline Miller
    £8.99 - 15.49

    WINNER OF THE ORANGE WOMEN'S PRIZE FOR FICTIONTHE INTERNATIONAL SENSATIONA SUNDAY TIMES AND NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER'Captivating' DONNA TARTT'I loved it' J K ROWLING'Ravishingly vivid' EMMA DONOGHUEGreece in the age of heroes. Patroclus, an awkward young prince, has been exiled to the court of King Peleus and his perfect son Achilles. Despite their differences, Achilles befriends the shamed prince, and as they grow into young men skilled in the arts of war and medicine, their bond blossoms into something deeper - despite the displeasure of Achilles's mother Thetis, a cruel sea goddess.But when word comes that Helen of Sparta has been kidnapped, Achilles must go to war in distant Troy and fulfill his destiny. Torn between love and fear for his friend, Patroclus goes with him, little knowing that the years that follow will test everything they hold dear. 'A book I could not put down' ANN PATCHETT'An exciting, sexy, violent Superman version of The Iliad' GUARDIAN'Sexy, dangerous, mystical' BETTANY HUGHES.

  • Save 11%
    by ONE
    £7.99

    Long-awaited print edition of the action-packed superhero comedy about one man's conviction to be a hero for fun!

  • Save 11%
    - Inspector Maigret #45
    by Georges Simenon
    £7.99

    Originally published in French as Maigret et la jeune morte by Presses de la Cit e 1954.

  • Save 11%
    by Akira Toriyama
    £7.99

    Goku's adventure from the best-selling classic manga Dragon Ball continues in this new series written by Akira Toriyama himself!

  • Save 11%
    by Haruichi Furudate
    £7.99

    A hit anime adaptation and a story where the underdog triumphs are just a few of the reasons Shonen Jump's volleyball manga is one of the most frequently requested licenses of past years.

  • Save 10%
    - The Vampire Chronicles 12
    by Anne Rice
    £8.99

    For the uninitiated and experienced traveller alike this continuation of The Vampire Chronicles makes a mockery of any shared cinematic universe you can name.' - Flickering Myth'Anne Rice's prose has always been lyrical and poetic, the words ebbing and flowing from page to page, calmly and rhythmically.

  • Save 11%
    - Inspector Maigret #49
    by Georges Simenon
    £7.99

  • Save 14%
    by Cixin Liu
    £9.49

    Earth and Trisolaris must face a new threat of an altogether different magnitude: the stunning conclusion of the Three-Body Problem trilogy.

  • Save 20%
    - Longlisted for the Baileys Women's Prize for Fiction 2017
    by Annie Proulx
    £11.99

    LONGLISTED FOR THE BAILEYS WOMEN'S PRIZE FOR FICTION 2017 A NEW YORK TIMES BOOK OF THE YEAR From Annie Proulx, the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Shipping News and Brokeback Mountain, comes her masterwork: an epic, dazzling, violent, magnificently dramatic novel about the taking down of the world's forests.

  • Save 11%
    - Inspector Maigret #48
    by Georges Simenon
    £7.99

    The inspiration for ITV's feature-length adaptation starring Rowan Atkinson'High up in Montmartre, there was a festive atmosphere, people were crowding round the little tables where ros wine was being served ... Yet a hundred metres further on, the little alleyways were deserted, and the killer might find it easy to pounce'Detective Chief Inspector Maigret is known for his infallible instinct, for getting at the truth no matter how complex the case, but when someone starts killing women on the streets of Montmartre, he finds himself confounded. In the sweltering Paris summer heat, with the city in a state of siege, Maigret hatches a plan to lure the murderer out ...Penguin is publishing the entire series of Maigret novels in new translations.'The most addictive of writers' Observer'Compelling, remorseless, brilliant' John Gray'One of the greatest writers of the twentieth century . . . Simenon was unequalled at making us look inside, though the ability was masked by his brilliance at absorbing us obsessively in his stories' Guardian 'A supreme writer . . . unforgettable vividness' Independent

  • Save 11%
    - Inspector Maigret #40
    by Georges Simenon
    £7.99 - 8.99

    When Maigret's prized gun goes missing, he must travel to London on the trail of a troubled young man on the run...Penguin is publishing the entire series of Maigret novels in new translations. 'His artistry is supreme' John Banville'One of the greatest writers of the twentieth century . . . Simenon was unequalled at making us look inside, though the ability was masked by his brilliance at absorbing us obsessively in his stories' Guardian 'A supreme writer . . . unforgettable vividness' Independent

  • Save 18%
    by Audre Lorde
    £11.49

  • Save 11%
    - Inspector Maigret #46
    by Georges Simenon
    £7.99

    Originally published in French as: Maigret chez le ministre. Presses de la Cit e, 1955.

  • by H. A. Covington
    £16.49 - 24.49

  • Save 11%
    by Louise Gluck
    £7.99

    The poems in this collection are written in the language of flowers. Louise Gluck received the Pulitzer Prize for "The Wild Iris" in 1993, and has also received the National Book Critics Award for Poetry and the Poetry Society of America's Melville Kane Award.

  • - His Odyssey
    by Rafael Sabatini
    £16.49 - 23.99

  • by Jules Verne
    £9.49 - 13.49

  • by Heyward & Du Bose
    £18.99 - 26.99

  • by Skip Ball
    £15.99 - 22.99

Fiction definition
Fiction is per definition set in a fictional story universe. It contains fictional characters with a fictional story line, but that does not mean that a fictional book necessarily should take place in magical kingdoms with supernatural creatures. In fiction we also find books inspired by real life - books that deal with real life problems and experiences but seen from a fictional point of view. Fiction can teach you a lot about empathy, because the main thing about a really good book is one’s ability to step into another person’s shoes and see the world from their point of view and feel the feelings they feel, whether they look like you or comes from different heredity and environment. By reading their story you get an understanding of why they act like they act and feel like they feel. At the same time the events make you reflect on your own life and in that case you could maybe learn something new about yourself and of life in general.  
Many classics is also part of the fiction genre, which might be the widest literary category there is. Fiction contains many genres. You can find both romance, fantasy, adventure, science fiction and fiction history books in our collection. 

Classics
Fiction literature contains some of the greatest classics of all time. A classic is defined by its universality. It speaks to you, whether it has been 100, 200 or even a 1000 years since the idea was put into paper, and the story came to life in the hands of an amazing and talented fiction writer. An example of that is the amazing stories by Jane Austen. One of our times most beloved fiction history books is the tale of Pride and Prejudice. The story follows Elizabeth - a strong, independent young woman - and her sisters in their attempt to act according to the norms, customs and ideals of women that were part of the 1800th hundred. The story is called Pride and Prejudice for a reason. The fiction history book deals with how people at the time often ‘judged a book by its cover’: power, prestige, wealth and beauty was sometimes more important than the person underneath it all even when it came to marriage. Jane Austen teaches us through her wonderful and humorous language that love is not always about looks, status and money, it is also a matter of the heart and mind. A message that still counts today. 

Fiction best sellers
At Tales you also find our times’ greatest fiction best sellers. The best seller list is a good place to start, if you cannot decide which book to begin with. A best seller is defined by its popularity and often good reviews. Follow other readers recommendations and start your fiction book journey with a best seller. 
A book that in recent years has enjoyed increased popularity is the science fiction novel The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood. The story takes place in a dystopian future not so far from our time. In that future the United States has been undertaken by a religious group, who has changed the society around, and most women do not have anything to say. Some are forced to live as handmaids, whose purpose is to deliver healthy children to the world. A world marked by atomic contamination, infertility and inequality. The book has recently gained its relevance, because of our times’ climate change and equality debates. The story also gets even more relevant with the spread of Covid-19 - an external, hostile power that forces us to stay isolated and avoid physical contact. The fiction book best seller comes in different versions with different covers. You can find The Handmaid’s Tale as both paperbacks, hardbacks and a special graphic novel edition. You also find the long awaited sequel The Testaments among our fiction best sellers.

Fiction books for teens
Fiction literature is for everybody and at Tales you can also find fiction books for teens. The stories often take place in adventurous surroundings taking your teens on magical adventures as in Harry Potter. Some of the recent years’ best sellers among teens take place in life-like surroundings and deal with difficult matters. They teach teens about love, life, but also illness and death - all important on your way of growing as a human being. 

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