It's here! Browse the 2024 Penguin Christmas gift guide
Belle

Belle

Summary

Be transported from London to New Orleans and beyond in this powerful, moving historical novel from the international bestseller Lesley Pearse

She witnessed a murder - and now her life is in danger . . .


Fifteen year-old Belle, though raised in a London brothel, is an innocent young girl. But when she witnesses one of the girls brutally strangled by a client, she is cast into a cruel, heartless world.

Snatched from the streets and sold into prostitution, she is made a courtesan in New Orleans. At the mercy of desperate men who crave her beauty and will do anything to keep her, Belle's dreams of home, family and freedom appear futile.

Are Belle's courage and spirit strong enough to help her escape?

And what will await her at the end of the long, dangerous journey home?


Praise for Lesley Pearse

'With characters it is impossible not to care about . . . this is storytelling at its very best'
Daily Mail

'Lose yourself in this epic saga'
Bella

'Glorious, heartwarming'
Woman & Home

'An emotional and moving epic you won't forget in a hurry'
Woman's Weekly

Reviews

  • The international number one bestselling author tells the story of a strong woman trying to be good in a world gone bad, taking us from London to New Orleans and beyond in this powerful, moving historical novel.

    She witnessed a murder - and now her life is in danger . . .
    from the publisher's description

About the author

Lesley Pearse

International bestselling author Lesley Pearse has lived a life as rich with incidents, setbacks and joys as any found in her novels.

By the mid sixties she was living in London, sharing flats, partying hard and married to a trumpet player in a jazz-rock band. She has also worked as a nanny and a Playboy bunny, and designed and made clothes to sell to boutiques.

It was only after having three daughters that Lesley began to write. She published her first book at forty-nine and has not looked back since.

Lesley is still a party girl.
Learn More

Sign up to the Penguin Newsletter

For the latest books, recommendations, author interviews and more