Email Novel Suspects Logo
Hachette provides comprehensive global distribution services in the following territories:
United States flag Switch to United States region United Kingdom flag Switch to United Kingdom region Australia flag Switch to Australia region India flag Switch to India region

Hachette Book Group menu

  • Home
  • Publishers
  • Customers
  • Sustainability
  • Retailer Portal
  • Location
  • Our Culture
  • Our Careers
Go to Hachette Book Group home

Hachette Book Group menu

  • Home
  • Publishers
  • Customers
  • Sustainability
  • Retailer Portal
  • Location
  • Our Culture
  • Our Careers

By clicking “Accept,” you agree to the use of cookies and similar technologies on your device as set forth in our Cookie Policy and our Privacy Policy. Please note that certain cookies are essential for this website to function properly and do not require user consent to be deployed.

The Little Wartime Library

The Little Wartime Library Open the full-size image

Loading

Contributors

By Kate Thompson

Formats and Prices

On Sale
Feb 21, 2023
Page Count
480 pages
Publisher
Forever
ISBN-13
9781538724217

Price

$18.99

Price

$24.99 CAD

Format

  1. ebook
  2. Audiobook Download (Unabridged)

Format:

  1. Trade Paperback $18.99 $24.99 CAD
  2. ebook $11.99 $15.99 CAD
  3. Audiobook Download (Unabridged) $31.99

Buy from Other Retailers:

  • Amazon
  • Barnes & Noble
  • Books-A-Million
  • Bookshop
  • Target
  • Walmart

An uplifting and inspiring novel based on the true story of a librarian who created an underground shelter during World War II, perfect for readers of The Paris Library or The Last Bookshop in London. 

London, 1944: Clara Button is no ordinary librarian. While war ravages the city above her, Clara has risked everything she holds dear to turn the Bethnal Green tube station into the country’s only underground library. Down here, a secret community thrives with thousands of bunk beds, a nursery, a café, and a theater—offering shelter, solace, and escape from the bombs that fall upon their city.

          Along with her glamorous best friend and assistant Ruby Munroe, Clara ensures the library is the beating heart of life underground. But as the war drags on, the women’s determination to remain strong in the face of adversity is tested to the limits when it may come at the price of keeping those closest to them alive.

Genre:

  • Fiction
  • Fiction
  • Historical
  • World War II
  • World War II

Kate Thompson was born in London and worked as a journalist for women's magazines and national newspapers before becoming a novelist. Over the past ten years, Kate has written twelve fiction and nonfiction titles, three of which have made the Sunday Times top ten bestseller list. She now lives in Sunbury with her husband, two sons, and two rescued Lurcher dogs, Ted and Saphhie. 
 

  • "Captivating and remarkable, it reminds us that stories soothe and help us make sense of the chaos in our lives."
    The Toronto Star
  • "The Little Wartime Library was such an immensely heartwarming read. I laughed and cried through the entire thing, completely enraptured. The characters were so endearing, and the true story behind the underground library is absolutely incredible. People who love books about books must read this gem!"
     
    Madeline Martin, New York Times bestseling author of The Last Bookshop in London
  • “This is just the story we need right now – a tale of ordinary people doing extraordinary things to keep hope alive, and to give a community adrift in wartime a sense of home. The Bethnal Green underground library might be the beating heart of the book’s subterranean village, but Clara is the soul of this novel. She’s the kind of character you cheer for, cry for, and dream for. Kate Thompson’s passion, meticulous research and brilliant storytelling make The Little Wartime Library an utter delight to read.” 
    Natasha Lester, New York Times bestselling author
  • "A heartwarming story of how friendship and the written word sustain us in the toughest times."
    Janet Skeslien Charles, New York Times bestselling author of The Paris Library
  • "This is a delightful story of community in wartime, love and loss, and resilience. Based on a true story,
    this uplifting tale is sure to satisfy."
    Booklist
  • "Gripping, emotional and uplifting."
    Gill Paul, USA Today bestselling author of The Secret Wife
  • "A captivating tale about the power of libraries and how they connect us . . . [a] fascinating slice of history."
    Andie Newton, author of The Girls from the Beach
  • "Kate has such a talent for bringing history to vivid life. Utterly transporting, vivid and fresh."
    Iona Grey, bestselling author of Letters to the Lost
  • "[A] splendid warm-hearted novel of wartime resilience and romance."
    Rachel Hore, bestselling author of A Beautiful Spy

You May Also Like

The Wartime Book Club
The Wartime Book Club $19.99 $25.99 CAD
The Three Partisans
The Three Partisans $18.99 $24.99 CAD
The Midwife of Berlin
The Midwife of Berlin $17.99 $23.99 CAD
The Lost Masterpiece
The Lost Masterpiece $29.00 $39.00 CAD
Strangers in Time
Strangers in Time $30.00 $39.00 CAD

Newsletter Signup

Get recommended reads, deals, and more from Hachette

By clicking ‘Sign Up,’ I acknowledge that I have read and agree to Hachette Book Group’s Privacy Policy and Terms of Use

Kate Thompson

About the Author

Kate Thompson was born in London and worked as a journalist for women’s magazines and national newspapers before becoming a novelist. Over the past ten years, Kate has written twelve fiction and nonfiction titles, three of which have made the Sunday Times top ten bestseller list. She now lives in Sunbury with her husband, two sons, and two rescued Lurcher dogs, Ted and Saphhie. 
 

Learn more about this author

▲
HBG Distribution logo
  • FAQ
  • Vendors
  • Cookie Policy
  • Report Piracy
  • Fraud Alert
  • CPSIA
  • GPSR
© 2025 Hachette Book Group | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Contact Us | Do Not Sell My Personal Information