A powerful and richly imagined collection of historical short stories about wanderers, dreamers, and those who cross boundaries in search of something more.
 
In Astray, Emma Donoghue (Room, Frog Music) uses her gift for historical detail and emotional depth to reimagine true events that span centuries and continents. Drawing on old letters, newspaper clippings, and court records, she resurrects voices lost to time — from the American frontier to Victorian England and beyond.
 
From a mother and daughter separated by slavery to a pioneer caught between loyalty and survival, Astray reveals the lives of people in motion — emigrants, adventurers, runaways, and rebels. Based on historical events and real documents, each story illuminates the courage and heartbreak of those who risk everything to leave one life behind for another.
 
These fourteen stories explore displacement in all its forms — from physical migration to moral and emotional exile. Donoghue’s prose is elegant and empathetic, reminding readers that even across time, the search for belonging and purpose remains universal.
 
Thought-provoking, intimate, and beautifully told, Astray showcases Emma Donoghue’s mastery of voice and her fascination with the untold corners of history.
 
💖 Why You’ll Love It
Fourteen captivating historical stories inspired by true events.
Explores migration, identity, and the human need to find home.
Perfect blend of historical authenticity and emotional depth.
Written by the bestselling author of Room and Frog Music.
A collection that is both thought-provoking and deeply humane.
 
🌟 Perfect For
Fans of Hilary Mantel, Colum McCann, and Sarah Waters.
Readers who love literary short stories and historical fiction.
Book clubs exploring human migration and resilience.
Anyone drawn to stories of displacement, reinvention, and hope.
 
❤️ Fans Also Liked
If you enjoyed Astray, you might also like:
Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri — stories of longing and identity.
The Thing Around Your Neck by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie — migration and belonging.
The American Lover by Rose Tremain — reflections on love, loss, and place.