‘Smart, funny, brittle and full of empathy all at the same time’

– VIV GROSKOP

Eleanor is the author of A Perfect Explanation, and A Memoir In 65 Postcards & The Recovery Diaries.

Her new novel, In Judgement of Others, will be published on 28 January 2025.

Praise for In Judgement of Others

‘Smart, funny, brittle and full of empathy all at the same time, In Judgement of Others is a tightly-wound novel that asks all the right questions. What is the appropriately sane response to modern life? How do you survive living with other people? And are any of us really remotely equipped to deal with all this? A brilliant examination of how we handle mental illness, family and the trials of everyday life.’ – VIV GROSKOP

‘Eleanor Anstruther writes with the barely suppressed anger and particular concision of Elizabeth Taylor.’ - DAMIAN BARR

‘Anstruther is a fantastic storyteller. In this clever, bubbling novel she exposes the dark heart of the Home Counties. Her writing on difficult subjects is perfectly pitched: a light and tender touch but not without real substance.’ - FIONA MELROSE

‘An Evelyn Waugh of our times, with a detour by way of Jilly Cooper, Eleanor Anstruther is biting in her wit and unflinching in her observations of both the darkness and joys of small-town life in England.’ - SUSANNAH CONSTANTINE

‘Brilliant. Beautiful writing with deftly drawn characters, In Judgement of Others offers us a glimpse into all our own hypocrisies.’ - CARIAD LLOYD

‘What are the truths we hide... or hide from? This satirical, dark novel is the perfect fireside read for the coming winter nights.’ - ESSIE FOX

‘Jagged, glittering, searing- In Judgement of Others brilliantly exposes the brutal undercurrents of complacent middle-class life.’ – LS HILTON

  • ‘Anstruther’s writing is elegant and intelligent, and the closest possible thing to a perfect explanation.’

    — Kate Saunders, The Times

  • ‘Superb.’

    — Alex Preston, The Guardian

  • ‘In the literary vein of Alice Munro.’

    — Will Smith, New Writing North

  • ‘Gripping, insightful and written with a breathtaking elegance and eloquence.’

    — Pam Norfolk, The Lancashire Post

  • ‘Take note folks, Eleanor Anstruther is the real deal.’

    – Tor Udall, author of A Thousand Paper Birds

  • ‘An intense and thought-provoking read.’

    — Essie Fox, author of The Goddess and The Thief

ELEANOR’S PUBLISHED WORKS

Books

ELEANOR’S SUBSTACK

The Literary Obsessive

 
 

ELEANOR’S BIO

About Eleanor

Eleanor was born in London, educated at Westminster School and studied History of Art at Manchester University where she was distracted from finishing her degree by a trip to India. 

She was lost and found for the next twelve years, starting a commune, building a stone circle, and travelling through Asia, Australia, Africa and America before finally settling down to write her acclaimed debut novel, A Perfect Explanation, (Salt Books) which was long-listed for the Desmond Elliott Prize and Not The Booker Prize. A champion of indie lit fiction on Substack, she writes The Literary Obsessive.

Image credit: Jillian Edelstein