Sphere climbs aboard The Circus Train with 'dazzling' debut author Parikh

Sphere has snapped up The Circus Train by debut author Amita Parikh, “a sweeping magical romance that takes the reader on a two-decade journey across a bygone Europe”.

Senior commissioning editor Rosanna Forte acquired UK and Commonwealth rights, excluding Canada, from Thérèse Coen at Hardman & Swainson, for UK publication in January 2023.

Parikh’s “entrancing” debut novel was first published in March in Canada by HarperCollins, and rights have sold in multiple territories around the world, including to Putnam in the US.

The Circus Train follows Lena Papadopoulos, the daughter of the World of Wonders’ headlining illusionist, as she grows up in the magical but exclusive world of a travelling circus, traversing Europe in a luxury steam engine. Lena longs for the real-world magic of science and medicine and, feeling constrained by her wheelchair, has never considered herself at home in the circus. That is until a French orphan, Alexandre, seeks refuge aboard the train and Lena’s life is infused with wonder for the first time. But outside the bright lights of the circus, darkness is descending over Europe. The horrors of the Second World War will soon threaten everything Lena holds dear, forcing her on an impossible journey of resilience and survival.

Forte said: “I read The Circus Train in one glorious afternoon of lockdown and was transported to a Europe at once familiar from the history books and utterly magical. Amita takes her readers on a journey filled with enchantment, heartbreak, horror, love and astonishing bravery. I am so excited for the UK to step aboard the World of Wonders in 2023.”

Parikh commented: “It’s a privilege to have Rosanna and the rest of the Sphere team publishing The Circus Train.  London was where I started working on this novel and where my writing career flourished — I owe so much of my success to the numerous talent schemes and initiatives the UK runs for new artists.

“It’s been a joy working on this book with the support of my brilliant agent, Thérèse, and my other editors, in addition to the team at Sphere. This story and its characters mean so much to me, and I hope that readers enjoy the magical world of The Circus Train.”

Coen added: “Rosanna and the team at Sphere are the perfect home for Amita’s utterly magical debut; bringing them all together was definitely one of the best things to have come out of lockdown. I am hugely excited for readers to discover Amita’s dazzling talent.”