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The Eights: The captivating debut historical novel following the first women to study at Oxford University

They knew they were changing history. They didn’t know they would change each other.
Reading guide
Start with The Eights, the captivating first novel in the series, which introduces the four pioneering women of Corridor Eight.
In 1920, four women from diverse backgrounds arrive at Oxford as its first female students. As they navigate lingering grief from the Great War, societal misogyny, and personal secrets, their unlikely friendship becomes a source of strength and transformation.

Description

In 1920, for the first time in its thousand-year history, Oxford University opens its doors to women. Against this backdrop of seismic social change, four young women from vastly different backgrounds arrive on Corridor Eight, each carrying dreams of education and emancipation, as well as the deep scars of a world still reeling from the Great War. Dora, Beatrice, Otto, and Marianne are thrown together into an unlikely sisterhood, their rooms a haven where they can strive for self-determination amid the lingering misogyny and grief that permeate post-war England. Joanna Miller's debut novel weaves a rich tapestry of historical detail and emotional depth, capturing the exhilaration and peril of that pivotal moment when these pioneers dared to claim their place in a hallowed institution.

More than just a historical novel, The Eights is a timeless celebration of friendship, resilience, and the courage to defy expectations. As the women navigate personal secrets, political awakening, and the ever-present shadow of influenza, their bond becomes the anchor that steadies them through turbulent times. This is literary historical fiction at its most immersive, perfect for book clubs and anyone who loves stories of women shaping history on their own terms.

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