In this stunning literary mystery, two scholars uncover a hidden love affair that refuses to stay buried. Roland Michell is a young academic drifting through obscurity when he discovers a letter in the archive of the Victorian poet Randolph Henry Ash. The letter hints at a secret relationship with another poet, Christabel LaMotte. What begins as literary curiosity becomes a covert investigation into a concealed history. Joined by Maud Bailey, a specialist in LaMotte’s work, Roland traces a correspondence that has remained hidden for over a century. As their research leads them through libraries, country houses and private collections, scholarship gives way to rivalry, secrecy and the thrill of discovery. This is a literary mystery that brings the Victorian era face-to-face with the present day, inspiring obsession and passion alike. The past does not lie quietly in its boxes. It waits to be rediscovered, and to alter the lives of those who seek it. ‘Exhilarating genius’ Guardian ‘Possession is eloquent about the intense pleasures of reading. And, with sumptuous artistry, it provides a feast of them’ Sunday Times **WINNER OF THE BOOKER PRIZE** VINTAGE QUARTERBOUND CLASSICS: Bound to be beautiful