The Telegraph's Best Books of 2024
Discover the top literary picks of 2024 as selected by Telegraph critics, featuring a diverse range of genres from fiction to non-fiction. This curated list highlights must-read titles that promise to captivate and inspire readers throughout the year.
A Voyage Around the Queen
Finding Alfie
On the 80th anniversary of D-Day, Michael Morpurgo embarks on a poignant journey to uncover the fate of Alfie, a WWII soldier and painter, discovering the enduring power of memory and service. more ...
Karla's Choice
Set in the missing decade between two iconic George Smiley novels, Nick Harkaway's Karla's Choice is a thrilling return to John le Carré's spy universe, where retired Smiley is drawn back into a peri… more ...
James
A profound and ferociously funny reimagining of the classic Huck Finn story, following Jim, an enslaved man, on a perilous journey for freedom along the Mississippi River during the Civil War era. more ...
The Eagle and the Hart
A gripping dual biography of Richard II and Henry IV, revealing their intense rivalry and its impact on a nation on the brink of collapse. more ...
Under a Rock
Chris Stein, co-founder and guitarist of Blondie, reveals the untold story behind the band’s rise and the vibrant New York punk scene in this candid and vivid memoir. more ...
Wrong Norma
Anne Carson’s Wrong Norma is a daring, playful collection of poetic prose pieces that explore language, memory, grief, and the slippery nature of words through fragmented, richly allusive essays and … more ...
Unleashed
A candid and unrestrained memoir by former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, revealing the high-stakes decisions and crises of his leadership. more ...
Richie Benaud’s Blue Suede Shoes
A gripping retelling of the 1961 Ashes Test at Old Trafford, exploring the clash of cricketing cultures through the contrasting captains Richie Benaud and Peter May. more ...
Chernobyl Roulette
A gripping account of Ukraine’s nuclear plant workers who, under Russian occupation, risked everything to prevent a second Chernobyl disaster amid war and nuclear threats. more ...
Didion & Babitz
An intimate exploration of the complex friendship and rivalry between two iconic American writers, Joan Didion and Eve Babitz, revealing a hidden world of 1960s-70s Hollywood through unpublished lett… more ...
Goethe: His Faustian Life
A. N. Wilson's vibrant biography explores Goethe as a genius polymath whose insatiable curiosity shaped modern Western thought, focusing on his lifelong obsession with Faust. more ...
Naked Portrait
Naked Portrait is a gripping memoir by Rose Boyt that explores her complex relationship with her father, the legendary painter Lucian Freud, through diary entries and vivid recollections. more ...
Time Runs Like A River
A lyrical picture book that explores the nature of time and change through the flowing river, inviting readers to appreciate each fleeting moment and the beauty of nature. more ...
Shakespeare's First Folio: All The Plays
A beautifully illustrated collection of all 36 Shakespeare plays, abridged and adapted for performance by children aged 7 and up, preserving the original language and dramatic spirit. more ...
Death at the Sign of the Rook
Ex-detective Jackson Brodie returns to unravel a tangled web of art thefts and murder at a Yorkshire estate turned murder mystery hotel, blending wit, homage, and a fiendishly clever plot. more ...
The Peacock and the Sparrow
A gripping spy thriller set during the Arab Spring in Bahrain, where a weary CIA operative's final mission entangles him in espionage, murder, and a transformative romance. more ...
Imposter Syndrome
A burned-out con-artist takes on a dangerous identity impersonation in a gripping thriller full of deception and dark secrets. more ...
Creation Lake
A ruthless American spy infiltrates a French eco-activist commune, navigating deception, provocation, and her own unraveling identity in a philosophical thriller. more ...
Concerning the Future of Souls
Joy Williams presents ninety-nine profound and witty illuminations on mortality through the perspective of Azrael, the Angel of Death, exploring the fate of souls from ordinary beings to great artists. more ...
The Son of Man
A man returns to his family after years away, taking them to a crumbling mountain home in a powerful exploration of how violence passes from one generation to the next. more ...
Church Going
An expert stonemason’s richly illustrated guide to the medieval churches of the British Isles, revealing their hidden histories, architecture, and craftsmanship. more ...
Oliver Cromwell: Commander in Chief
This second volume of Ronald Hutton’s acclaimed biography reveals Oliver Cromwell’s ruthless rise to supreme power during England’s turbulent Civil War aftermath. more ...
Italy Reborn
A compelling account of Italy’s remarkable transformation from war-torn fascism to a thriving post-war democracy, highlighting the pivotal role of Alcide De Gasperi and the resilience of Italian democracy. more ...
Infinite Life
Infinite Life reveals the overlooked story of eggs as a key to understanding evolution and biodiversity, exploring their pivotal role from ancient origins to modern species. more ...
The Tomb of the Mili Mongga
A thrilling scientific expedition on the Indonesian island of Sumba uncovers extinct mammals and explores the legend of the mysterious 'mili mongga,' blending fossils, folklore, and biodiversity in a… more ...
The Language of War
A vivid, day-by-day chronicle of life under invasion in Ukraine, exploring how war transforms language, memory, and identity. more ...
The Ukraine
A striking debut blending fiction and nonfiction to capture the complex essence of Ukraine, written by a Ukrainian author fighting on the front lines. more ...
The Telegraph's Best Books of 2024 presents a carefully curated selection of the year's most compelling reads, showcasing the finest in literature across various genres. From insightful biographies like Craig Brown's _A Voyage Around the Queen_ to heartwarming children's tales such as Michael Morpurgo's _Finding Alfie_, this list offers something for every reader. Delve into gripping fiction with Nick Harkaway's _Karla's Choice_ or explore the complexities of identity in Percival Everett's _James_. Non-fiction enthusiasts can uncover historical narratives in Helen Castor's _The Eagle and the Hart_ or engage with contemporary political discourse through Boris Johnson's _Unleashed_. With selections spanning poetry, science, and children's literature, The Telegraph's Best Books of 2024 is an essential guide for anyone looking to enrich their reading experience this year.