WellRead are honoured to be hosting this month’s selected author, Emily Maguire, for an In Conversation With at the stunning Ace Hotel Sydney this October. Treat yourself to an evening in the city with readers and thinkers alike. A drink will be provided upon arrival.

Long-time WellRead subscribers – and voracious readers – will be familiar with Emily’s previous novel Love Objects as one of our 2021 selections. This time, she’s brought us Rapture, an entirely different story and one that left us speechless.

Dropping us in ninth century Mainz, she introduces us to Agnes, the daughter of an English Priest. Agnes is hungry for knowledge and she listens with intent as she waits on her father’s friends who visit from afar. To avoid a future as a wife or a nun, Agnes disguises herself as a man and secures a place at the Fulda monastery.

From there, we follow her on a journey of astounding proportions as she navigates political intrigue, desire and the realities of a Church unsteady on its feet. Reading Rapture was a completely absorbing experience – nothing could have prepared us for how invested we would become in Agnes’ story.

Inspired by a series of medieval stories of a woman whose life took a similar trajectory, Maguire says she was initially intimidated by how much the rumours and records couldn’t agree on the details, or even the existence of this woman.

Rapture is one of the best books you will read all year, if not in your life.

Your host, Ruby Bisson, is the owner of WellRead and lover of books – she can’t wait to speak to Emily about her latest feat.

If you're not a current subscriber of WellRead, there will be an opportunity to purchase Rapture on the night. We will also have Emily’s backlist titles, and a number of other WellRead favourites. And, if you'd like to subscribe, you can do so here.