“This summer’s hottest debut.” —Cosmopolitan • “Witty, sexy escapist fiction [that] packs a substantial punch...Fresh and thrilling.” —Los Angeles Times • “Electric...I loved every second.” —Emily Henry
“Utterly winning...Imagine if The Time Traveler’s Wife had an affair with A Gentleman in Moscow...Readers, I envy you: There’s a smart, witty novel in your future.” —Ron Charles, The Washington Post
A time travel romance, a spy thriller, a workplace comedy, and an ingenious exploration of the nature of power and the potential for love to change it all: Welcome to The Ministry of Time, the exhilarating debut novel by Kaliane Bradley.
In the near future, a civil servant lands her dream job, only to discover its unusual nature. A newly formed government ministry is gathering “expats” from across history to determine the feasibility of time travel—both for the human body and the fabric of space-time.
Her task is to serve as a “bridge,” living with, assisting, and monitoring the expat known as “1847,” or Commander Graham Gore. Historically, Commander Gore perished on Sir John Franklin’s ill-fated 1845 Arctic expedition. He finds himself in a bewildering world with an unmarried woman who freely shows her calves, surrounded by strange concepts like “washing machines,” “Spotify,” and “the collapse of the British Empire.” Yet, with a thirst for discovery, a significant cigarette habit, and the camaraderie of fellow expats, he quickly adapts.
Over the following year, the bridge’s initial expectation of a dreadful roommate situation evolves into a profound connection. As the true purpose of the Ministry’s project unfolds, she unexpectedly falls deeply in love, with unforeseen consequences. Forced to confront the choices that brought them together, the bridge must grapple with whether her next actions can alter the future.
An exquisitely original and wildly entertaining blend of genres and ideas, The Ministry of Time poses the question: What happens when history lives under your roof? Kaliane Bradley’s answer is a dazzling and unforgettable testament to our obligations to one another in a constantly changing world.
Details
- Author: Kaliane Bradley
- Publisher: Avid Reader Press / Simon & Schuster (April 1, 2025)
- Page Count: 368 pages
- Print type: Paperback
- ISBN: 978-1668045152
