The Last Concubine shortlisted for Romantic Novel of the Year

Romantic Novel of the Year Bestselling author Cecelia Ahern is one of the six authors shortlisted for the Romantic Novel of the Year 2009, which is organised by the Romantic Novelists’ Association. The final six novels are currently being read by a panel of three judges, who will select the winner in time for the … Read more

Concubines, courtesans and geishas

A reviewer of The Last Concubine in the highly respected Literary Review wrote: ‘The author, who lived in Japan for many years, has published non-fiction accounts of the lives of the geishas, and capitalises on recent Western interest in their esoteric, vanished world with her detailed depiction of Sachi’s life in the rarefied harem.’ I’m … Read more

German interviews with Lesley Downer

There are two German language interviews with Lesley Downer online at BYM.de and NDRKultur.de, which also includes a radio interview available as an audio podcast.

Sunday Times article – Japan’s new professional seducers

Japan’s new professional seducers This woman leads a double life. Her boyfriend thinks she’s a secretary. In fact she is one of Japan’s new breed of professional seducers, hired by embittered spouses to entrap their straying partners. And she’ll stop at nothing to get the desired results. Read Full Article This article appeared in the … Read more

The Last Concubine tour dates autumn 2008

Monday October 6th 7 pm Borders, York Illustrated lecture on The Last Concubine: Secrets of the Women’s Palace In collaboration with York Japan Day, October 5th/6th Tuesday November 18th 7 pm Oxford University Japan Society Oriel College, Oxford Illustrated lecture on The Last Concubine: Secrets of the Women’s Palace Free for members, £1.50 for non-members … Read more

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