Agents of Empire by Noel Malcolm
Told through the stories of one Venetian-Albanian family, this examines the rise of Ottoman sultans at the expense of western Europe. Malcolm creates a sweeping picture of Ottoman and Christian worlds and the interaction between them in the late 16th century. (Allen Lane, May 28)
Tanglewood by Dermot Bolger
Two neighbouring families in an affluent suburb of Dublin, in 2007 decide to build a townhouse that straddles their gardens. But little do they realise how the project will expose the fault lines in their lives and relationships. Said to be a journey to the heart of the ‘Celtic Tiger’ economy’s hollow core. (New Island Books, May 29)
Leica Format by Daša Drndic
A traveller comes to a city and unwittingly to her past. A woman meets a stranger who says her identity is a lie. Drndic blends fact and fiction, history and memory, and word and images in this experimental novel that examines the horror of history. From the author of Trieste; translated from Croatian by Celia Hawkesworth. (Maclehose Press, May 7)
The Museum of Things Left Behind by Seni Glaister
The European idyll of Vallerosa is a tiny enclave sheltered from the world and the march of capitalism. But the locals have grown disenchanted and trouble is brewing as big money offers up temptation. Said to be a fable about what we have lost and gained in modern life. (Fourth Estate, May 21)
Frank Auerbach: Speaking and Painting by Catherine Lampert
Auerbach, who was born in Berlin and whose parents died in a concentration camp, is in his 80s and still producing sculptural paintings of friends and family. The Tate will run a major retrospective from October. (Thames and Hudson, May 25)
It’s One For The Money by Clinton Heylin
The rock historian delves into the world of song publishing, from who really wrote Whiter Shade of Pale to the Moody Blues demanding their share of Nights in White Satin. Said to be an unvarnished story of popular song, from jukeboxes to digital downloads. (Constable, May 7)
