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Harvill to publish Rachel Louise Driscoll's Gothic Victorian mystery
Harvill is set to publish Rachel Louise Driscoll’s Gothic Victorian mystery, which follows Esther, a young floral painter who uncovers the story behind a famous Arthurian legend thanks to an archaeological discovery and her knowledge of the language of flowers.
Harvill acquired world all-language rights to The Spider and the Lily from Sarah Hornsley at PFD. Harvill will publish The Spider and the Lily in March 2027.
Driscoll won the Curtis Brown Creative Write from Home scholarship in 2020. Originally from the South West, she lives in the North East with her husband. Her debut novel, Nephthys, was published by Harvill in January 2025.
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Liz Foley, Harvill publishing director, said: "I’m over the moon to have this brilliant, gripping new historical mystery coming from Rachel. She has braided together real-life mysteries from the Victorian era with a gorgeously immersive story inflected with Arthurian legend to create something really stunning and unique."
Driscoll said: "I couldn’t be more thrilled to be working with Liz and the team at Harvill again, and I’m so thankful for their continued enthusiasm for my novels. The Spider and the Lily explores themes of loss and longing, woven with the language of flowers and long-buried secrets. I can’t wait for readers to meet my Esther and Emily, and I really hope they will enjoy this blend of Gothic mystery, suspense, legend and what is, ultimately, a celebration of love."
