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Behind the Scenes at the Museum by Kate Atkinson

Behind the Scenes at the Museum is a novel by Kate Atkinson that traces the life of Ruby Lennox, beginning at the moment of her conception and spanning several generations of her family.

The book combines humour and tragedy, weaving together the intricate and often hidden histories of Ruby’s ancestors, revealing the secrets and complexities that shape her existence.

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Genre: Literary Fiction

Author: Kate Atkinson

Buy: Amazon | Waterstones

Published: 1995

Book Blurb

Ruby Lennox was conceived grudgingly by Bunty and born while her father, George, was in the Dog and Hare in Doncaster telling a woman in an emerald dress and a D-cup that he wasn’t married. Bunty had never wanted to marry George, but here she was, stuck in a flat above the pet shop in an ancient street beneath York Minster, with sensible and sardonic Patricia aged five, greedy cross-patch Gillian who refused to be ignored, and Ruby…

Ruby tells the story of The Family, from the day at the end of the nineteenth century when a travelling French photographer catches frail beautiful Alice and her children, like flowers in amber, to the startling, witty, and memorable events of Ruby’s own life.

About the Author

Kate Atkinson is a British author known for her novels, short stories, and plays. Kate Atkinson books have received numerous awards and accolades. These include the Whitbread Book of the Year Award (for Behind the Scenes at the Museum) and multiple Costa Book Awards in various categories. She has also been shortlisted for prestigious literary awards such as the Man Booker Prize.

Kate Atkinson books are therefore a must-read for so many people. Atkinson’s writing often blends various genres, including literary fiction, crime fiction, and historical fiction, and she is praised for her intricate plots, well-drawn characters, and sharp wit.

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