An Atlas of Countries That Don’t Exist by Nick Middleton
From Africa’s last colony to Crimea, to the European republic that enjoyed just a day of independence, this is an engaging and funny tour around contested borders and forgotten peoples. This is also beautifully illustrated with 50 maps. (Macmillan, November 5)
Shanghai Blue by Yue Tao
Lan returns to Shanghai after years abroad. But much has changed. An orphan, she has come back from Europe to China’s sprawling metropolis to find her parents. But the city is an enigma, the people odd and the mystery of her parents turns sinister. (World Editions, November 5)
Beatlebone by Kevin Barry
John Lennon travels to a remote island off the west coast of Ireland in 1978 in an attempt to escape his demons. Barry takes on the difficult task of fictionalising a real-life musical icon in this exploration of solitude, love and death. He won the Impac Dublin Literary Award for his debut, City of Bohane. (Canongate Books, November 5)
Between Enemies by Andrea Molesini
Austrian troops advance into northern Italy in 1917 and the aristocratic Spada family find their estate requestioned. Then, an act of violence against some local girls sparks their desire for revenge. But who will follow through and who will fold? This is was a prize-winning bestseller in Italy. (Atlantic Books, November 5)
The Global Transformation of Time: 1870 to 1950 by Vanessa Ogle
The advent of railways, cars and steamships brought much anguish about discrepancies in time-telling. Here, Ogle charts the struggle to standardise clocks and usher in “time reform”. (Harvard University Press, October 29)
Dietrich and Riefenstahl: Hollywood, Berlin and a Century in Two Lives by Karin Wieland and Shelley Frisch
Marlene Dietrich and Leni Riefenstahl both sought fame in Germany’s film industry. But both reacted very differently to the Nazis and ended up on opposite sides. Newly translated dual biography. (Liveright, November 13)