Sarah Burton Books In Order

Publication Order of Standalone Novels

Sarah Burton is a distinguished British educator and novelist who has made her name for her contributions to creative writing and literature. Over the years, she has published a diverse body of work that includes collaborative mystery series, historical novels, and biographies which showcase her depth as a writer in addition to her versatility. Burton is one of the most notable contributors to education in creative writing in the United Kingdom. She has lectured on creative writing at prestigious institutions such as the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge. At the Institute for Continuing Education at Cambridge University, she has been involved in the International Summer Programme and has taught online courses, day schools, and weekend courses. Until 2017, she was an ICE Master’s program Course Director in creative writing. She is also the convener of the organization’s Writers’ Retreats. Sarah Burton has become one of the best-known teachers of writing for children, writing for performance, nonfiction, and fiction.

Her literary career has been punctuated by various publications that are evidence of her scholarly insight and narrative prowess. In 2000, Sarah Burton published a fascinating expiration of notable people from history who took on false identities in the work Impostors: Six Kinds of Liar. Another notable biography was the 2003 published work A Double Biography of Charles and Mary Lamb. The book was a deep exploration of the lives of famous siblings who were known for making significant contributions to literature during the 19th century. Starting in 2020, Sarah Burton got into fiction as she started publishing historical novels. Her debut was The Strange Adventures of H a critically acclaimed work set in England in the 17th century. The work made the shortlist for the Debut Fiction Crown by the Historical Writers’ Association. It was this novel that showcased her ability to combine engaging storytelling with rich historical narratives. To demonstrate her versatility even further, she teamed up with Jem Poster to co-author the novel Eliza Mace in 2024.

Besides her novels, Sarah Burton is actively engaged in the creative community. She has produced and written seven community plays intended to foster local talent and make the arts accessible to underserved communities. Through the many facets of her career, she has had a significant impact on creative writing education and literature, Her works continue to inspire and engage writers and readers alike making her one of the most notable figures in the literary community.

The Strange Adventures of H is a brilliant work of fiction that put Sarah Burton on the fiction writing map. When H’s father died, she and her sister Evelyn went to live with an adoring aunt and her cousins. But then the plague ravages across London and people are left dealing with unimaginable isolation, suffering, and loss. Things only get worse when she is raped by Roger her cousin and is then abandoned on the streets with no money and pregnant too. Hungry and alone, she becomes a prostitute to survive even though she paints her face and wears vibrant clothes as a badge of survival and courage. Living on the streets, she has to deal with adversity, betrayal, loss, and love even though she cloaks herself in positive thinking phrases. Set in London during the time of the playhouses, the Great Fire of London, and the plague, it is a work that comes with a palpable aura of terror and an authentic historical touch.

In 2024, Sarah Burton published her second historical fiction work Eliza Mace. the lead in the novel is Eliza a sixteen-year-old who finds herself stuck between warring parents. Thankfully she can spend some time with her uncle on the wide grounds of their property where they discuss things that a regular girl of her age should not be talking about. At the beginning of the story, her parents are in a huge fight about resources and money. Ultimately her father climbs on his horse and leaves and does not return like he usually does. While everyone was initially confused, they finally called the police to help. The police constable working the case is Dafydd Pritchard who is new to the police force. While he is still a rookie he is a hard worker who is determined to get to the bottom of the mystery even if he annoys many people while doing so. As Dafydd and Eliza work together to solve the mystery of her father’s disappearance, they unearth all manner of secrets that could just change everyone’s lives.