A Ladder to the Sky

2020 Longlist

If you look hard enough, you will find stories pretty much anywhere. They don’t even have to be your own. Or so would-be-novelist Maurice Swift decides early on in his career. A chance encounter in a Berlin hotel with celebrated author Erich Ackerman gives Maurice an opportunity. For Erich is lonely, and he has a story to tell; whether or not he should is another matter. Once Maurice has made his name, he finds himself in need of a fresh idea. He doesn’t care where he finds it, as long as it helps him rise to the top. Stories will make him famous, but they will also make him beg, borrow and steal. They may even make him do worse. This is a novel about ambition.

About the Author

John Boyne was born in Ireland. He is the author of eleven novels for adults including A History of Loneliness, The Heart’s Invisible Furies, and A Ladder to the Sky. He has also written five books for young readers including his 2006 multi-award-winning and bestselling book The Boy In The Striped Pyjamas. He lives in Dublin.

Librarian’s Comments

Wonderful character studies; Fantastic dialogue; Fascination at all twists and turns. A book that stays in one’s thoughts long after reading. Dunedin Public Libraries, New Zealand