Clare Clark moves to Virago

Virago is publishing historical novelist Clare Clark’s new book, In the Full Light of the Sun, following the fortunes of three Berliners caught up in a devastating scandal of 1930s Germany. The book will be Clark's first novel with Virago, having previously published with Vintage. 

Lennie Goodings at Virago secured UK and Commonwealth rights in the new book, excluding Canada, from Clare Alexander, as well as the rights to reprint the author's first novel, The Great Stink, which is currently in film production.  

In the Full Light of the Sun tells the story of Emmeline, a wayward young art student; Julius, an anxious, middle-aged art expert; and a mysterious art dealer named Rachmann who are at the heart of Weimar Berlin at its hedonistic, politically turbulent apogee and whipped up into excitement over the surprising discovery of 32 previously unknown paintings by Vincent van Gogh.

Based on a true story, unfolding through the subsequent rise of Hitler and the Nazis, according to Virago the book is also about authenticity, beauty and justice, and "the truth that may be found when our most treasured beliefs are revealed as illusions". 

Clark has published five historical novels, two of which - The Great Stink and third novel, Savage Lands - were longlisted for the Orange Prize in 2005 and 2010. 

Goodings commented: "I am delighted to welcome Clare Clark, who I have long admired, to the Virago list. I think her brilliant novel about authenticity, vanity and self-delusion is perfect for our times."

Virago will publish In the Full Light of the Sun in early 2019.