The Invisible Woman by Claire Tomalin

Winner of the NCR book award, the Hawthornden prize and the James Tait Black Memorial prize. 

This is the story of someone who - almost - wasn't there; who vanished into thin air. Her names, dates, family and experiences very nearly disappeared from the record for good. 

Claire Tomalin's multi-award winning biography of the life of Nelly Ternan and Charles Dickens is a remarkable work. It returns the neglected actress to her rightful place in history, as well as providing a compelling and truthful portrait of the great Victorian novelist. 

"Tomalin tells with great alacrity and with much sympathy and understanding the story that Dickens would never have cared, or indeed dared, to write." - Spectator.