The Smallest Man

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Description

I want you to remember something, Nat. Youre small on the outside. But inside youre as big as everyone else. You show people that and you wont go far wrong in life.

A compelling story perfect for fans of The Doll Factory, The Illumination of Ursula Flight and The Familiars.

My name is Nat Davy. Perhaps youve heard of me There was a time when people up and down the land knew my name, though they only ever knew half the story.

The year of 1625, it was, when a single shilling changed my life. That shilling got me taken off to London, where they hid me in a pie, of all things, so I could be given as a gift to the new queen of England.

They called me the queens dwarf, but I was more than that. I was her friend, when she had no one else, and later on, when the people of England turned against their king, it was me who saved her life. When they turned the world upside down, I was there, right at the heart of it, and this is my story.

Inspired by a true story, and spanning two decades that changed England for ever, The Smallest Man is a heartwarming tale about being different, but not letting it hold you back. About being brave enough to take a chance, even if the odds arent good. And about how, when everything else is falling apart, true friendship holds people together.

Praise forThe Smallest Man:

An enchanting tale abouta small man with a big heart. Nat Davy is so charming that I couldn't bear to put this book down. I loved it Louise Hare, author of This Lovely City

A perfect fusion of history and invention. Its so purposefully written, cuts right to the chase, galloping along. Nats wit and humour makes the poignancy of his story all the more powerful - The Smallest Man has the biggest heart Beth Morrey, author of Saving Missy

'What a page-turner! A timely tale celebrating courage, determination and friendship, it serves as a warning against prejudice and superficial judgements'Anita Frank, author ofThe Lost Ones

I absolutely loved it. It's a rare thing to get a historical fiction that is wonderfully researched, pitch-perfectly voiced and unputdownable, but this is the real deal. A perfectly formed masterpiece. I raced through it C.S. Quinn, author ofThe Bastille Spy

I loved this book - a fascinating tale of extraordinary accomplishment, and a story about how anything is possible and how love has always been a beacon of hope Phillip Schofield

'I adored Nat Davys witty narrative as his personal struggles and triumphs unfolded alongside the compelling events of a troubled court and a Queen in jeopardy. I found myself rooting for the Smallest Man in England from the very first page' Sonia Velton, author of Blackberry and Wild Rose

Great memorable books are made by great, memorable characters. Frances Quinns Nat Davy is such a character. The Smallest Man is a beautiful, heartwarming tale, weaving history and fiction intricately and seamlessly. I was routing for Nat from the first page. Quinn shows us how a big heart and strength of character can lead anyone, perceived disability or not, to achieve great things, and that kindness and compassion are the most important of human qualities. I loved this book Louise Fein, author of People Like Us

This book took me on an epic journey with a character that will always have a special place in my heart, I shall miss Nat Davy immensely! Emma Cooper, author of If I Could Say Goodbye

Written with a wonderful lightness of touch, full of humour and humanity... An engaging, compelling, thought-provoking story of a life less ordinaryCaroline Scott, author ofThe Photographer of the Lost

A beguiling and well-written tale, whose mysterious protagonist is plucked from a famous painting; the carefully crafted historic context uncannily reflects contemporary politics Ellen Alpsten, author ofTsarina

What a wonderful romp through such a turbulent period of history. I absolutely fell for the books narrator: an ebullient character whose voice and world view I adored Polly Crosby, author ofThe Illustrated Child

Reviews

An enchanting tale abouta small man with a big heart. Nat Davy is so charming that I couldn't bear to put this book down. I loved it -- Louise Hare, author of This Lovely City
A fascinating tale of extraordinary accomplishment, and a story about how anything is possible and how love has always been a beacon of hope -- Phillip Schofield
'I adored Nat Davys witty narrative as his personal struggles and triumphs unfolded alongside the compelling events of a troubled court and a Queen in jeopardy. I found myself rooting for the Smallest Man in England from the very first page' -- Sonia Velton, author of Blackberry and Wild Rose
Great memorable books are made by great, memorable characters. Frances Quinns Nat Davy is such a character. The Smallest Man is a beautiful, heartwarming tale, weaving history and fiction intricately and seamlessly. I was routing for Nat from the first page. Quinn shows us how a big heart and strength of character can lead anyone, perceived disability or not, to achieve great things, and that kindness and compassion are the most important of human qualities. I loved this book -- Louise Fein, author of People Like Us
A beguiling and well-written tale, whose mysterious protagonist is plucked from a famous painting; the carefully crafted historic context uncannily reflects contemporary politics -- Ellen Alpsten, author of Tsarina
What a wonderful romp through such a turbulent period of history. I absolutely fell for the books narrator: an ebullient character whose voice and world view I adored -- Polly Crosby, author of The Illustrated Child
'What a page-turner! A timely tale celebrating courage, determination and friendship, it serves as a warning against prejudice and superficial judgements' -- Anita Frank, author of The Lost Ones
I absolutely loved it. It's a rare thing to get a historical fiction that is wonderfully researched, pitch-perfectly voiced and unputdownable, but this is the real deal. A perfectly formed masterpiece. I raced through it -- C.S. Quinn, author of The Bastille Spy
A perfect fusion of history and invention. Its so purposefully written, cuts right to the chase, galloping along. Nats wit and humour makes the poignancy of his story all the more powerful - The Smallest Man has the biggest heart -- Beth Morrey, author of Saving Missy
This book took me on an epic journey with a character that will always have a special place in my heart, I shall miss Nat Davy immensely! -- Emma Cooper, author of If I Could Say Goodbye
Written with a wonderful lightness of touch, full of humour and humanity... An engaging, compelling, thought-provoking story of a life less ordinary -- Caroline Scott, author of The Photographer of the Lost

Author Bio

Frances Quinn grew up in London and read English at Kings College, Cambridge, realising too late that the course would require more than lying around reading novels for three years. After snatching a degree from the jaws of laziness, she became a journalist, writing for magazines includingPrima,Good Housekeeping,She,Womans WeeklyandIdeal Home, and later branched out into copywriting, producing words for everything from Waitrose pizza packaging to the EasyJet in-flight brochure. In 2013, she won a place on the Curtis Brown Creative novel writing course, and started work on her first novel,The Smallest Man. That Bonesetter Woman is her second novel. She lives in Brighton, with her husband and two Tonkinese cats.