Farrago to publish new historical fiction series from Maughan

Duckworth Books imprint Farrago has acquired Love and Miss Harris by Peter Maughan, the first book in the new historical fiction series Company of Fools.

Set in post-Second World War Britain, Love and Miss Harris will follow The Red Lion Touring Company on a whimsical tour of Britain after their home theatre in the East End of London is destroyed during the war.

Publisher Pete Duncan acquired word rights direct from the author, with publication scheduled for May 2021. 

Farrago’s Publishing and marketing executive Rob Wilding commented: "Maughan returns with a truly timely work which not only fulfils the joy of nostalgic and farcical escapism, but poignantly mirrors the country’s current need to pick itself up after a period of national trauma."

Maughan, who ran a fringe theatre in Barnes, said: "I took the name of the Red Lion fringe theatre and lent it to the East End touring company of Love and Miss Harris. I transferred other things with it as well – the backstage world and people who have their time again, their calls and curtains, on another stage."

Farrago also published Maughan's the Batch Magna Chronicles.