Northodox Press signs Carolyn O'Brien's 1930s-set historical fiction
Northodox Press has signed Carolyn O’Brien’s historical fiction novel, Rose & Renzo, about a young woman in 1930s Manchester.
Publisher James Keane acquired UK and Commonwealth, English-language rights from Lisa Highton at Jenny Brown Associates for publication in spring 2026.
The novel follows Rose whose family "find themselves ejected from their genteel life and into the vibrant hub of Manchester’s Little Italy". As an aspiring artist, Rose begins a relationship with Italian painter Renzo.
The synopsis continues: "As Oswald Mosley’s Blackshirts and anti-fascists clash across the city, Rose finds herself drawn into the fight against fascism from Manchester to Cable Street."
O’Brien said: “I am thrilled my timely story of a young woman’s awakening to the threat of fascism is to be published. It has been fascinating to research the Little Italy of the inter-war period, and I have loved creating Rose, a reckless, creative misfit who strives for art and freedom and love, even as the doom-laden clouds of 1936 gather. As a writer who finds so much inspiration in Manchester’s radical history, it is wonderful to find a home for Rose’s story with the team at Northodox who do such a brilliant job of championing all things northern."
Keane added: “Carolyn’s penchant for illuminating the lesser-known corners of history never fails to intrigue readers. Rose & Renzo taps into her literary sensibilities, which was an irresistible proposition for an indie publisher on the up."
