Legend Press scoops Day's 'powerful narrative of resilience and love'

Legend Press has scooped Night Climbing, the "sweeping" historical novel from Sarah Day.

UK and Commonwealth rights, excluding Canada, were acquired by Lauren Wolff-Jones, commissioning editor, from Kiya Evans on behalf of Juliet Mushens at Mushens Entertainment. The novel will be published on 18th September 2024.

Night Climbing is inspired by The Black Forest Tragedy in April 1936, where a group of schoolboys went on a hike with their teacher in Freiburg and the next morning five of the children were found dead. The novel follows the search for a missing boy, a fictionalised addition to the plot, as two women  search for the boy "against the frightening sweep of Nazi support in rural Germany".

Day’s debut novel Mussolini’s Island (Tinder Press) won the 2018 Betty Trask Award and was shortlisted for the Polari First Book Prize and the Historical Writers’ Association Debut Crown. She commented: "The real story of The Black Forest Tragedy is incredibly moving – not least because many of the children who survived must have gone on to be called up to fight in World War Two. I was fascinated, not only by their plight, but by the wider story of the propaganda, misinformation and injustice which surrounded it. I’m really happy that Lauren and the team at Legend have shown such enthusiasm and vision for Night Climbing, and I’m so grateful to Juliet and Kiya for all their hard work to find it the perfect home."

Wolff-Jones said: "From the moment I started reading Sarah’s novel, I found myself utterly captivated. The narrative resonates deeply, skilfully weaving a tapestry that immerses you in the tension of Germany teetering on the brink of war. Suspicion and fear seep into a once-tight-knit community, and desperation unfolds in the frantic quest for survivors. A powerful narrative of resilience and love that transcends the pages."