Jasper Fforde Popular Books

Jasper Fforde Biography & Facts

Jasper Fforde (born 11 January 1961) is an English novelist, whose first novel, The Eyre Affair, was published in 2001. He is known mainly for his Thursday Next novels, but has published two books in the loosely connected Nursery Crime series and the first books of two other independent series: The Last Dragonslayer and Shades of Grey. Fforde's books abound in literary allusions and wordplay, tightly scripted plots and playfulness with the conventional, traditional genres. They usually contain elements of metafiction, parody, and fantasy. Early life Fforde was born in London on 11 January 1961, the son of John Standish Fforde, the 24th Chief Cashier for the Bank of England. He is a grandson of the Polish political activist, Joseph Retinger, and a great-grandson of the journalist E. D. Morel.Fforde was educated at the progressive Dartington Hall School. In his first jobs, he worked as a focus puller in the film industry. He worked on a number of films, including The Trial, Quills, GoldenEye, The Mask of Zorro, and Entrapment. Novels Fforde published his first novel, The Eyre Affair, in 2001. His published books include a series of novels starring the literary detective Thursday Next: The Eyre Affair, Lost in a Good Book, The Well of Lost Plots, Something Rotten, First Among Sequels, One of Our Thursdays Is Missing and The Woman Who Died a Lot. The Eyre Affair had received 76 publisher rejections before its eventual acceptance for publication.Fforde won the Wodehouse prize for comic fiction in 2004 for The Well of Lost Plots. Several streets in the Thames Reach housing development in Swindon have been named after characters in the series.The Big Over Easy (2005), set in the same alternative universe as the Next novels, reworks his first written novel, which initially failed to find a publisher. Its original title was Who Killed Humpty Dumpty? It was later entitled Nursery Crime, which now refers to the series of books. These describe the investigations of DCI Jack Spratt. The follow-up to The Big Over Easy, The Fourth Bear, was published in July 2006 and focuses on Goldilocks and the Three Bears. Shades of Grey, the first novel in a new series, was published December 2009 in the United States and January 2010 in the United Kingdom. In November 2010 he produced The Last Dragonslayer, the first novel in a new series. It is a young-adult (YA) fantasy novel about a teenage orphan Jennifer Strange which has now been adapted for television. Two further books have been published in the series, The Song of the Quarkbeast (2011) and The Eye of Zoltar (2014). The series was originally planned as a trilogy, but a fourth book in the series was announced in 2014, The Great Troll War (2021). Short stories In 2009, Fforde published a story in the Welsh edition of Big Issue magazine (distributed by the homeless) called "We are all alike" (previously "The Man with no Face"). He also published "The Locked Room Mystery mystery" [sic] in The Guardian newspaper in 2007; this story remains available online. The U.S. version of Well of Lost Plots features a bonus chapter (34b) called "Heavy Weather", a complete story in itself, featuring Thursday Next in her position as Bellman. Other interests Fforde has an interest in aviation and owns and flies a Rearwin Skyranger. Fforde Ffiesta Originating with the Fforde Ffestival in September 2005, the Fforde Ffiesta (cf. Ford Fiesta) is an annual event built around Fforde's books and held in Thursday Next's home town of Swindon over the May bank holiday weekend. People travel from afar to take part in a wide range of events, including a reenactment of the gameshow Name That Fruit, Hamlet Speed Reading competitions, and interactive performances of Richard III. Bibliography Thursday Next The Eyre Affair (2001) Lost in a Good Book (2002) The Well of Lost Plots (2003) Something Rotten (2004) First Among Sequels (2007) One of Our Thursdays is Missing (2011) The Woman Who Died a Lot (2012) Nursery Crime Division The Big Over Easy (2005) The Fourth Bear (2006) Shades of Grey Shades of Grey (2009) Red Side Story (2024) The Dragonslayer The Last Dragonslayer (2010) The Song of the Quarkbeast (2011) The Eye of Zoltar (2014) The Great Troll War (2021) Standalone Novels Early Riser (2018) The Constant Rabbit (2020)References External links Official website The Fforde Ffiesta, annual fan gathering Jasper Fforde at British Council: Literature Jasper Fforde at Library of Congress, with 24 library catalogue records Jasper Fforde at the Internet Speculative Fiction Database Jasper Fforde at IMDb Interview broadcast by the Lewis Burke Frumkes Radio Show in January 2010 (audio). Discover the Jasper Fforde popular books. Find the top 100 most popular Jasper Fforde books.

Best Seller Jasper Fforde Books of 2024

  • The Battersea Barricades synopsis, comments

    The Battersea Barricades

    Jodi Taylor

    A Chronicles of St Mary's short story that is sure to entertain. If you love Jasper Fforde or Ben Aaronovitch, you won't be able to resist Jodi Taylor. It's not easy being a rebel....

  • Christmas Present synopsis, comments

    Christmas Present

    Jodi Taylor

    A Chronicles of St Mary's short story that is sure to entertain. If you love Jasper Fforde or Ben Aaronovitch, you won't be able to resist Jodi Taylor. It's Christmas Eve at St Mar...

  • And Now for Something Completely Different synopsis, comments

    And Now for Something Completely Different

    Jodi Taylor

    A Chronicles of St Mary's short story that is sure to entertain. If you love Jasper Fforde or Ben Aaronovitch, you won't be able to resist Jodi Taylor. Here's a question for you. W...

  • A Perfect Storm synopsis, comments

    A Perfect Storm

    Jodi Taylor

    A Chronicles of St Mary's short story that is sure to entertain. If you love Jasper Fforde or Ben Aaronovitch, you won't be able to resist Jodi Taylor. You don't have to travel thr...

  • When a Child is Born synopsis, comments

    When a Child is Born

    Jodi Taylor

    A Chronicles of St Mary's short story that is sure to entertain. If you love Jasper Fforde or Ben Aaronovitch, you won't be able to resist Jodi Taylor. It's Christmas Day 1066 and ...

  • Beowulf synopsis, comments

    Beowulf

    Michael Alexander

    Part of a new series Legends from the Ancient North, Beowulf is one of the classic books that influenced JRR Tolkien's The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings'So the company of men le...

  • Javascotia synopsis, comments

    Javascotia

    Benjamin Obler

    Melvin Podgorski is young, naïve, American and a coffee fanatic. It's this passion that leads him from his native Chicago to 1990s Glasgow to scout out the prospects for a US coff...

  • Ships and Stings and Wedding Rings synopsis, comments

    Ships and Stings and Wedding Rings

    Jodi Taylor

    A Chronicles of St Mary's short story that is sure to entertain. If you love Jasper Fforde or Ben Aaronovitch, you won't be able to resist Jodi Taylor. It's Christmas at St Mary's ...

  • A Second Chance synopsis, comments

    A Second Chance

    Jodi Taylor

    The third book in the bestselling Chronicles of St Mary's series which follows a group of teasoaked disaster magnets as they hurtle their way around History. If you love Jasper Ffo...

  • Roman Holiday synopsis, comments

    Roman Holiday

    Jodi Taylor

    A Chronicles of St Mary's short story that is sure to entertain. If you love Jasper Fforde or Ben Aaronovitch, you won't be able to resist Jodi Taylor. Question: What sort of idiot...

  • This Charming Man synopsis, comments

    This Charming Man

    C. K. McDonnell

    STOP PRESS! The Stranger Times wins the 2023 British Fantasy Award for Best Audio Work!Vampires do not exist. Everyone knows this. So it's particularly annoying when they start pop...

  • The Ordeal of the Haunted Room synopsis, comments

    The Ordeal of the Haunted Room

    Jodi Taylor

    A Christmas ghost story Chronicles of St Mary's style! For fans of Doctor Who and Jasper Fforde... and A Christmas Carol. Where better for the annual festive jump than the chance ...

  • The Steam-Pump Jump synopsis, comments

    The Steam-Pump Jump

    Jodi Taylor

    A Chronicles of St Mary's short story that is sure to entertain. If you love Jasper Fforde or Ben Aaronovitch, you won't be able to resist Jodi Taylor. Not one to let being banged ...

  • The Most Wonderful Time of the Year synopsis, comments

    The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

    Jodi Taylor

    In the always eventful worlds of Jodi Taylor, it's never Christmas without illegal expeditions, riotous misbehaviour and stories you just can't put down . . .This festive collectio...

  • Another Time, Another Place synopsis, comments

    Another Time, Another Place

    Jodi Taylor

    'Jodi Taylor is quite simply the Queen of Time. Her books are a swashbuckling joyride through History' C. K. MCDONNELL'A great mix of British properness and humour with a large dol...

  • Two Cousins of Azov synopsis, comments

    Two Cousins of Azov

    Andrea Bennett

    A heartwarming novel about the surprise of second chances in the autumn of your life. Gor is keeping busy. He has a magic show to rehearse, his new assistant to get in line and a d...

  • Northanger Abbey synopsis, comments

    Northanger Abbey

    Jane Austen

    'Jane Austen is a genius, and Northanger Abbey is hugely underrated' Martin AmisWith its irrepressible heroine and playful literary games, Northanger Abbey is the most youthful and...

  • White Silence synopsis, comments

    White Silence

    Jodi Taylor

    The first instalment in the gripping supernatural thriller series from international bestselling author, Jodi Taylor.'I don't know who I am. I don't know what I am.'Elizabeth Cage ...

  • Santa Grint synopsis, comments

    Santa Grint

    Jodi Taylor

    The brand new TIME POLICE short story from millioncopy bestselling author of THE CHRONICLES OF ST MARY'S.It all begins when the Time Police hold their first Children's Christmas Pa...

  • The Ferryman Institute synopsis, comments

    The Ferryman Institute

    Colin Gigl

    In this stunning, fantastical debut novel from a bold new voice in the bestselling traditions of Christopher Moore and Jasper Fforde, a ferryman for the dead finds his existence un...

  • The Very First Damned Thing synopsis, comments

    The Very First Damned Thing

    Jodi Taylor

    A Chronicles of St Mary's short story that is sure to entertain. If you love Jasper Fforde or Ben Aaronovitch, you won't be able to resist Jodi Taylor. Ever wondered how it all beg...

  • Joy to the World synopsis, comments

    Joy to the World

    Jodi Taylor

    A Frogmorton Farm short story from the bestselling author of the Chronicles of St Mary's. Perfect for fans of Sarah Addison Allen, Kristen Ashley and Genevieve Cogman.It's Christma...

  • The Toast of Time synopsis, comments

    The Toast of Time

    Jodi Taylor

    A Christmas short story from the 'Queen of Time', internationally bestselling author of The Chronicles of St Mary's, Jodi Taylor.'Jodi Taylor is quite simply the Queen of Time. Her...

  • Christmas Past synopsis, comments

    Christmas Past

    Jodi Taylor

    A Chronicles of St Mary's short story that is sure to entertain. If you love Jasper Fforde or Ben Aaronovitch, you won't be able to resist Jodi Taylor. The First Farrell Family Chr...

  • Doing Time synopsis, comments

    Doing Time

    Jodi Taylor

    'Not enough stars to do this justice. I loved it' Reader review ⭐ ⭐⭐ ⭐⭐Introducing THE TIME POLICE an irresistible spinoff from the internationally bestselling CHRONICLES OF ST MA...

  • Shades of Grey synopsis, comments

    Shades of Grey

    Jasper Fforde

    The New York Times bestseller hailed as “a rich brew of dystopic fantasy and deadpan goofiness” (The Washington Post) from the author of the Thursday Next series and Red Side Story...

  • The Vinyl Detective - Flip Back synopsis, comments

    The Vinyl Detective - Flip Back

    Andrew Cartmel

    The fourth book in the hilarious and enthralling Vinyl Detective mystery series. "Like an old 45rpm record, this book crackles with brilliance." David Quantick on Written in Dead W...

  • Early Riser synopsis, comments

    Early Riser

    Jasper Fforde

    An instant New York Times bestsellerThe latest standalone novel from Jasper Fforde, the bestselling author the Thursday Next series and the forthcoming standalone The Constant Rabb...

  • The Vinyl Detective - Victory Disc synopsis, comments

    The Vinyl Detective - Victory Disc

    Andrew Cartmel

    The third book in the hilarious and enthralling Vinyl Detective mystery series. "Like an old 45rpm record, this book crackles with brilliance." David Quantick on Written in Dead Wa...

  • Brother Dusty Feet synopsis, comments

    Brother Dusty Feet

    Rosemary Sutcliff

    Along with his faithful dog Argos, elevenyearold Hugh Copplestone decides to leave his Aunt and Uncle's house after one beating too many, and heads for Oxford to seek his fortune.W...

  • Sir Gawain and the Green Knight synopsis, comments

    Sir Gawain and the Green Knight

    Bernard O'Donoghue

    'Tomorrow I must set off to receive that blow, to seek out that creature in green, God help me!'J.R.R. Tolkien spent much of his life studying, translating and teaching the great e...

  • The Forbidden Temple synopsis, comments

    The Forbidden Temple

    Patrick Woodhead

    To Luca Matthews the dangers of the high mountain peaks are the air upon which he thrives.In the ruthless pursuit of his goals he would sacrifice anything even another climber's l...

  • The Good, The Bad and The History synopsis, comments

    The Good, The Bad and The History

    Jodi Taylor

    BOOK 14 IN THE CHRONICLES OF ST MARY'S SERIES, FROM THE MILLIONCOPY BESTSELLER JODI TAYLOR. ⭐ ⭐⭐ ⭐⭐'Brilliant, hilarious, keeps you on your toes' Reader review 'The characters make...

  • Brunswick Street Blues synopsis, comments

    Brunswick Street Blues

    Sally Bothroyd

    Winner of the inaugural ASA/HQ Commercial Fiction Prize. The twists keep piling up in this fun and distinctively Australian debut mystery, perfect for readers of The Thursday Murde...

  • Christmas Pie synopsis, comments

    Christmas Pie

    Jodi Taylor

    Merry Christmas from Jodi Taylor. It's time for St Mary's traditional Christmas jump even though it's only September...St Mary's has never lacked for enemies, but danger has never...

  • The Third Pig Detective Agency synopsis, comments

    The Third Pig Detective Agency

    Bob Burke

    A rather silly detective story in the spirit of Jasper Fforde.Harry Pigg, the only surviving brother from the Big Bad Wolf attacks, has set up business as a private detective in Gr...

  • Long Shadows synopsis, comments

    Long Shadows

    Jodi Taylor

    BOOK 3 IN THE GRIPPING SUPERNATURAL SERIES BY THE BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF THE CHRONICLES OF ST MARY'SI don't know who I am. I don't know what I am. The identity of Elizabeth Cage has...

  • The Empathy Problem synopsis, comments

    The Empathy Problem

    Gavin Extence

    'You can't put it down . . . precise and propulsive . . . a real pageturner' Janice Forsyth Show, BBC Radio Scotland'It's so good it'll leave you wanting to change your own life' I...

  • Little Donkey synopsis, comments

    Little Donkey

    Jodi Taylor

    A Frogmorton Farm short story. Catch up with the characters from Jodi Taylor's bestselling novel, The Nothing Girl, as they navigate the complexities of the local nativity play in ...

  • The Lone Woman synopsis, comments

    The Lone Woman

    Bernardo Atxaga & Margaret Jull Costa

    Irene is 37 years old and just out of prison after serving time for terrorist activities. Deciding to return home to Bilbao, she takes a bus journey across Spain, striking up conve...

  • The Eyre Affair synopsis, comments

    The Eyre Affair

    Jasper Fforde

    Meet Thursday Next, literary detective without equal, fear or boyfriendJasper Fforde’s beloved New York Times bestselling novel introduces literary detective Thursday Nex...

  • The Constant Rabbit synopsis, comments

    The Constant Rabbit

    Jasper Fforde

    "Reads like a crazed cross between Watership Down and Nineteen EightyFour."The Guardian"Every book of Fforde's seems to be a cause for celebration." Charles Yu, The New York Times...

  • Plan for the Worst synopsis, comments

    Plan for the Worst

    Jodi Taylor

    'A great mix of British properness and humour with a large dollop of historical fun' BOOK 11 IN THE INTERNATIONALLY BESTSELLING CHRONICLES OF ST MARY'S SERIESFor fans of Richard O...

  • Just One Damned Thing After Another synopsis, comments

    Just One Damned Thing After Another

    Jodi Taylor

    'One of my favourite books of all time' CHARLAINE HARRIS 'Jodi Taylor is quite simply the Queen of Time. Her books are a swashbuckling joyride through History' C. K. MCDONNELL'A gr...