Once Upon a River (novel)

Once Upon a River
First edition (UK)
AuthorDiane Setterfield
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish
GenreHistorical, Fantasy
Set inRiver Thames, England
PublisherDoubleday (UK)
Atria Books (US)
Publication date
2018
Pages480

Once Upon a River is a novel by British author Diane Setterfield, published in 2018. The story centres around a mysterious girl who returns to life after drowning in the River Thames. Setterfield's third novel, the book received praise for its strong characterisations and powerful storytelling.

Background[edit]

Setterfield's first inspiration for the story came from real-life accounts of people appearing to die and come back to life when suffering from cold shock response after falling into rivers.[1]

The novel's setting was partially inspired by Setterfield's childhood fascination with pubs and storytelling.[2]

One of the characters, Henry Daunt, is "inspired by" the real person Henry Taunt (1842–1922), a photographer who lived in Oxford.[3]

Summary[edit]

A girl, seemingly drowned, is brought into an inn at Radcot in Oxfordshire. Soon, the child inexplicably comes to life. The story follows three separate parties with an interest in the fate of the girl.[4]

Publication[edit]

Setterfield moved to Doubleday for the publication of Once Upon a River.[5] The book was published in December 2018.[6]

Reception[edit]

The book received largely positive reviews. The Times named it as its Book of the Month for January 2019.[7] The Financial Times described it as "magical in every way."[8] The Washington Post praised the novel's "stunning prose" and strong setting.[9]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Historia interviews: Diane Setterfield – Historia Magazine". historiamag.com. Archived from the original on 2021-04-18. Retrieved 2022-06-04.
  2. ^ "The Interview: Diane Setterfield on Once Upon a River | Waterstones.com Blog". waterstones.com. Archived from the original on 2019-05-07. Retrieved 2022-06-04.
  3. ^ Setterfield, Diane (2019). "Author's note". Once upon a river. London: Transworld. p. 509. ISBN 978-1-7841-6363-1.
  4. ^ Miller, Laura (25 January 2019). "Once Upon a River by Diane Setterfield review – gentle storytelling | Fiction". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 2021-12-04. Retrieved 2022-06-04.
  5. ^ "The Bookseller - Rights - Setterfield moves to Transworld to publish 'spellbinding' new novel". thebookseller.com. Archived from the original on 2022-06-04. Retrieved 2022-06-04.
  6. ^ "Once Upon a River". Diane Setterfield. Archived from the original on 2022-04-19. Retrieved 2022-06-04.
  7. ^ "Review: Historical fiction: Once Upon a River; Blood & Sugar; A River in the Trees; The Binding; Triumph in Dust". The Times. Archived from the original on 2021-04-22. Retrieved 2022-06-04.
  8. ^ Roy, Nilanjana (18 January 2019). "Once Upon A River by Diane Setterfield — powered by an otherworldly force". Financial Times. Archived from the original on 2021-03-03. Retrieved 2022-06-04.
  9. ^ "'Once Upon a River,' by Diane Setterfield book review". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on 2019-01-13. Retrieved 2022-06-04.
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