Cumbria Guide Book Club: January/February 2026
Cumbria Guide Book Club
January/February 2026
Kick off 2026 with a great line-up of local authors! From history and poetry to suspenseful fiction, this season’s selection offers something for every reader, showcasing the best of Cumbria’s storytelling talent.
If you have a new book coming out or have recently published, then do get in touch to be featured in future editions of The Book Club, email: [email protected]
Secrets of the Hidden People
by Paul Eastham
Paul Eastham returns with Secrets of the Hidden People, a compelling exploration of Cumbria’s often overlooked Celtic heritage. Tracing a continuous cultural thread from prehistoric times to the present day, Eastham challenges the idea that Cumbria’s Celtic identity was erased by successive invasions. Instead, he reveals how ancient traditions have endured through place names, language, landscape and local customs. Blending archaeology, folklore and radical historical insight, the book uncovers extraordinary stories — from stone circle rituals and resistance to Roman rule to legends of King Arthur and the forces that eventually made Cumbria English — inviting readers to rethink what they know about the county’s deep and resilient past.
Available from www.fletcherchristianbooks.com
The Lake Poets: An Anthology
with an introduction by James Rebanks
This book is a richly illustrated anthology celebrating the English Lake Poets — William and Dorothy Wordsworth, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, Robert Southey and Charles Lamb — whose radical ideas and creative energy were shaped by the landscape of the Lake District. Bringing together well-loved poems such as ‘I Wander’d Lonely as a Cloud’ and ‘Kubla Khan’ alongside revealing extracts from letters and journals, the collection captures both their literary brilliance and their rebellious spirit. Introduced by James Rebanks, who frames the poets as bold, unconventional voices of their time, the book offers an engaging and accessible insight into their lives, friendships and enduring connection to the Lakes, making it an ideal companion for visitors and poetry lovers alike.
Available on amazon.co.uk
The Silver Road
by Paula Hillman
Fay Brockbank has made a life for herself in a beachside community, though she must keep her brother’s identity a secret. When the body of her best friend is discovered by Jude Roberts, a stranger to the community, Fay can’t help thinking the worst. What she doesn’t realise is that Jude is on a mission of his own. Fay and Jude bond over events that happen in the wake of the death, but are unaware of how their pasts are intertwined. The mysterious death triggers an inquest that shakes the community’s beliefs to their core, leaving Fay and Jude to piece their lives together while trying to safeguard their fragile connection.
Available on amazon.co.uk
Paper Sisters
by Rachel Canwell
Paper Sisters tells the story of three women on the eve of World War I, living between river, marsh, and fen, under the shadow of an isolation hospital that never treated a patient.
Inspired by the author’s family history, the story draws on the 1881 opening (and sudden collapse) of Sutton Bridge port in Lincolnshire. Across the river, the small hospital was built to serve the port and remained fully stocked for nearly 70 years, cared for by the family. Despite its readiness, it never once admitted a patient, leaving a quiet, haunting presence at the heart of the story.
Available from February 2026!
Maude Mallard
by Victoria Kent
Maude Mallard introduces Magic of the Solway Marsh to everyone. A cheerful young duck living with her family beside the shimmering Solway Firth. Each day brings playful marsh adventures, from mossy trampolines and muddy slides to lively friends and ever-changing wildlife.
As the sun sets and the sky glows pink and gold, Maude settles by her family nest, feeling proud, safe, and deeply at home.
A warm, lyrical celebration of nature, family, and the gentle magic of the wild.
Available from Waterstones.
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