The Photographer of the Lost

A BBC RADIO 2 BOOK CLUB PICK

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The Photographer of the Lost

By: Caroline Scott, Chris Harper

Narrated by: Lucy Paterson

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£5.99/mo after 3 months. Offer ends on 5 July 2026 at 11:59 BST. Cancel monthly.

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A BBC Radio 2 Book Club Pick
Perfect for fans of The Tattooist of Auschwitz and 1917

If someone you loved went missing, would you ever stop searching for them?

1921. The Great War is over and while many survivors have been reunited with their loved ones, Edie’s husband Francis has not come home. He has been declared ‘missing, believed killed’, but when Edie receives a mysterious photograph in the post, taken by Francis, hope flares. And so she begins to search.

Francis’s brother, Harry, is also searching. Hired by grieving families to photograph gravesites, he has returned to the Western Front. He too longs for Francis to be alive, so they can forgive each other for the last conversation they ever had.

And as Harry and Edie’s paths converge, they begin to get closer to a startling truth.

An incredibly moving account of an often-forgotten moment in history, The Photographer of the Lost is an epic novel of forbidden love, loss and the shattered hearts left behind in the wake of the First World War.

Caroline Scott is a freelance writer and historian specializing in WWI and women’s history. The Photographer of the Lost is partially inspired by her family history.

Caroline ScottChris HarperLucy PatersonSimon & Schuster Audio UK

20th Century

Fiction

Historical Fiction

Military

Photography

Women

World War I

Marriage

Heartfelt

War

20th Century Fiction Historical Fiction Military Photography Women World War I Marriage Heartfelt War

Critic reviews

'[An] impressive debut . . . a touching novel of love and loss'

'There's only one word for this novel . . . and that's epic . . . A beautifully written must-read'

‘This excellent debut is a melancholic reminder of the rippling after-effects of war’

‘A poignant hymn to those who gave up their lives for their country and to those who were left behind’ (Fanny Blake, bestselling author of A Summer Reunion)

‘The pain of not knowing where a son, brother or husband lies, and the guilt and psychological dissonance that torment survivors, are movingly conveyed in this terrific first novel’

'I was utterly captivated by this novel, which swept me away, broke my heart, then shone wonderful light through all the pieces' (Isabelle Broom, author of One Winter Morning)

‘Beautiful, unflinching, elegiac: The Photographer of the Lost is going to be on an awful lot of Best Books of the Year lists, mine included . . . it’s unforgettable’ (Iona Grey, bestselling author of The Glittering Hour)

‘A beautiful, tender novel which explores the aftermath of the Great War, and the shattered lives left behind. Written with gorgeous prose and a cast of memorable characters, this is a stunning debut which had me spellbound from the first page to the last’ (Hazel Gaynor, New York Times bestselling author of The Lighthouse Keeper’s Daughter)

‘What a stunningly beautiful book this is. Caroline Scott evokes the trenches of WWI and the heartache of the postwar period as vividly as if she had lived it herself . . . this is a powerful, redemptive novel, one that teaches us not only about history, but about our capacity for love. I could not put it down’ (Abigail DeWitt, author of News of Our Loved Ones)

'A gripping, devastating novel about the lost and the ones they left behind' (Sarra Manning)

‘Scott has done an amazing job of drawing on real stories to craft a powerful novel’

'An amazing debut. It captivated me from start to finish and I can't recommend it highly enough'

‘A deeply poignant and immersive novel . . . told in beautiful, elevated prose. I was completely caught up in these characters’ stories.’ (Rachel Hore, author of The Love Child)

What a wonderful debut novel. So accomplished. It grabs you from page one with such immediacy, such urgency. With a mystery at its heart and a moving, but page turning hook, I couldn’t stop reading. (Lorna Cook, author of The Forgotten Village)

'Momentous, revelatory and astonishing historical fiction!'

'A profoundly moving story of love and loss. The Photographer of the Lost is a sublimely rendered portrait of the search for answers amidst the chaos and devastation left behind in the aftermath of World War 1' (Fiona Valpy, author of The Dressmaker's Gift)

Most relevant

The story is interesting and is about the war that isn’t often spoke about. I had never thought about the fallen soldiers graves, straight after the war and the people left behind to visit or see them. I see them now more than just a reminder. It took me a while to get through this book the story was interesting, slow places, but I didn’t find the story enjoyable but it’s right to be wrote like this.