The Last of Earth

A STUNNING HISTORICAL NOVEL FROM WOMEN'S PRIZE LONGLISTED AUTHOR * One of BBC's '12 books you need to read in 2026' * A Guardian Book of the Day * A BookBub 'Best Historical Fiction of 2026' selection Two outsiders venture into the Forbidden Kingdom of Tibet, both driven by a motive they are desperate to keep secret... In 1869, the mountainous territory of Tibet is closed to foreigners. Balram is an Indian guide recruited to lead an English Captain on an illegal and foolhardy expedition within Tibet. Katherine, fleeing a life of frustrated ambition, is determined to become the first European woman to reach Lhasa. The two of them cross paths on their long, treacherous journeys. As they battle to survive, Balram and Katherine face storms and bandits, snow leopards and soldiers, fevers and frostbite. But nothing is more dangerous than the secrets that snap at their heels, in this unforgettable story about the obsessions of empire and the lengths we go to in pursuit of legacy. 'An epic, perilous odyssey.' Guardian 'Riveting... This book is a triumph.' Laila Lalami, author of The Dream Hotel

Deepa Anappara's debut novel, Djinn Patrol on the Purple Line, was named as one of the best books of the year by the New York Times, Washington Post, Time, Guardian and NPR. It won the Edgar Award for Best Novel, was longlisted for the Women's Prize for Fiction, and shortlisted for the JCB Prize for Indian Literature. Anappara is the co-editor of Letters to a Writer of Colour, a collection of personal essays on fiction, race, and culture. The Last of Earth is her second novel.