Five Weeks in the Country

by Francine Prose

From the acclaimed, award-winning author of Reading Like a Writer and Lovers at the Chameleon Club, Paris, 1932 comes an utterly original novel inspired by the strange friendship between Charles Dickens and Hans Christian Andersen and set during the summer when Dickens's family life exploded.

In the summer of 1857, when British newspapers warned of an approaching comet about to destroy the earth, an unusual-looking stranger arrived at Charles Dickens's home, Gad's Hill, in the countryside outside London. Dickens had met Hans Christian Andersen at a dinner party, a decade before, and, in a moment of desperation, had invited him to visit.

The visit did not go well. The eccentric Danish author of classic fairy tales, who barely spoke English, outstayed his welcome and alienated the Dickens household, which included nine children. Even the oblivious, obsessively self-conscious Andersen sensed the increasing tension between Dickens and his unhappy wife, Catherine, but was slow to understand—or to believe—that Dickens had fallen in love with a young actress appearing in his new play. For Andersen, those five weeks were a series of social mistakes and embarrassments but ultimately a lesson in how life's most humbling experiences can be transformed into art.

Five Weeks in the Country, a work of imaginative fiction inspired by actual events, is Francine Prose at her dazzling best.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Summer, Historical, Adult Fiction

304 pages, Hardcover

First published May 5, 2026

About the author

Francine Prose is the author of twenty works of fiction. Her novel A Changed Man won the Dayton Literary Peace Prize, and Blue Angel was a finalist for the National Book Award. Her most recent works of nonfiction include the highly acclaimed Anne Frank: The Book, The Life, The Afterlife, and the New York Times bestseller Reading Like a Writer. The recipient of numerous grants and honors, including a Guggenheim and a Fulbright, a Director's Fellow at the Dorothy and Lewis B. Cullman Center for Scholars and Writers at the New York Public Library, Prose is a former president of PEN American Center, and a member of the American Academy of Arts and Letters and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. Her most recent book is Lovers at the Chameleon Club, Paris 1932. She lives in New York City.

Reviews

[Janet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story. This was a Goodreads giveaway winner.

[Edens Book Den · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one has such a distinct tone from the very first pages-it opens with a heaviness that immediately sets the stage, especially through the children’s voices as they sense their father pulling away. There’s something really heartbreaking about that perspective…and it carries throughout the story.


The way Hans Christian Andersen steps into Charles Dickens’ world feels awkward, and very intentional. You can feel how out of place he is, how every interaction has a bit of strain to it. It’s not a visit anyone would envy, and that tension follows him the whole time. The writing leans into that too…it has that slightly melancholic, Dickensian feel that really fits the setting and mood.

What stood out to me most was Andersen himself. There’s this sense that he’s incredibly talented, but also unsure of where he fits-like he can’t quite see what’s already within him or what’s right in front of him. Add in the language barrier and all the social missteps, and it becomes such a human story. It really taps into that feeling we all have sometimes, like we don’t quite belong-while also reminding us that we’ve all had our own wins and moments worth celebrating.

“I awoke, lit the lamp, and began to write. I felt words returning, then a sentence, then another. I knew what would happen next, and after that. Something had been found. Something had returned to me.”

That quote really captures the feeling of of struggling and then suddenly finding your way back.


There’s a lot of imagination woven in, but it’s grounded in emotion and vulnerability. Not always the easiest tone, but definitely a thoughtful and memorable read.

I’ll absolutely be picking up more from Prose-especially Anne Frank: The Book, the Life, the Afterlife, which I’ve been wanting to read.

If you love historical fiction that leans into character and emotion, this is one to pick up. It takes a real-life encounter and fills in the gaps with imagination, focusing on the emotions and tensions behind it.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️



I was gifted an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

[Candace Siegle, Greedy Reader 2.0 · Rating 3 out of 5]

In the masterful hands of Francine Prose, this novel manages to be funny but at the same time painfully sad. It's based on an invitation Charles Dickens sent to Hans Christian Andersen to come for a visit. Andersen does, arriving unannounced (his reply did not arrive) and at the crucial point in the dissolution of the Dickens family. Andersen doesn't speak English and is one of those people who simply cannot read social cues. He cannot understand why Dickens' effusive invitation is resulting in this rude, unkind treatment. The Dickens children--all nine of them--know something bad is up. Their father has moved them from their happy city life to a remote house in the country, he treats their mother cruelly, and they know that he has a lover in town. Dickens wants to be rid of all of them, but here he is with the universe's most awkward house guest.

You feel for everyone in this story but Andersen if the saddest. Brilliant but usually failing, uncomfortable but living off a string of invitations, he is someone who will not fit anywhere.

This odd historical event does not result in satisfying literature. I can't put my finger on why. Perhaps because everyone is so unhappy and can't pull themselves together enough to seek to understand this guest who wants nothing more than to love them.

Thanks to Edelweiss for a DRC of this novel.

[Christina Egan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book Review - Five Weeks in the Country by Francine Prose
This was a really fascinating read for those who are historical fiction readers. This book was about the family of Charles Dickens and the time period before he left his family. The books is about a five week period of time in 1856 when the family is at their country home and Hans Christian Anderson comes to visit.
Charles Dickens and his wife had 9 children who survived into childhood. Charles and his wife Catherine did not marry for love and with Charles being away and his lack of affection (as well as having so many children and undiagnosed depression) resulted inn Catherine spending much of time in her bedroom despondent over her marriage. Hans comes to visit at a time when to eir marriage is falling apart and overstays his welcome.
The book is told from multiple points of view, Dickens children, his wife, Dickens himself and Hans Christian Anderson which I found really interesting. I had not realized that Hans was such a odd duck. Also had no idea that Dickens was really not a good person at all.
The book was well written and I enjoyed the storyline and all of the characters.

[Kim McGee · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 1/2 stars
Historical fiction of one of the most unusual friendships and the dilemma of what to do with a houseguest who overstays their welcome. I can't imagine two more distinctly opposite personalities than authors Charles Dickens and Hans Christian Andersen and it is very evident when Dickens loosely invites Andersen to visit his country home. The Danish fairy tale author arrives barely speaking English and between scaring the Dickens children with his over the top pantomimes and his unlike English behavior it is not an easy visit. There is also the fact that Charles Dickens is having a not so secret affair with a much younger actress in London causing his wife and the rest of the family a lot of pain. Hans Christian Andersen sees this and is sympathetic to Mrs. Dickens and the family. I wish that Charles Dickens wasn't such an odious character and Hans Christian Andersen a buffoon but it was an interesting look at the cost of fame, large egos and the male lack of feeling towards the family left behind. My thanks to the publisher for the advance copy.

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this advance reader copy in exchange for a review.
This book in innovative and fun!
It's true that Hans Christian Anderson visited the Charles Dickens family at their country home and stayed for 5 weeks. What Francine Prose does with this tidbit is presents the story from all sides. How does the family feel about the visitor and their father/spouse? What was Dickens' and Anderson's take of the visit?
I found the book both informative and humorous! I know where was a lot of license taken as the author explains, but I personally will never tire of books about authors and how they interacted in their day, especially Dickens. I find them fascinating!
4*

[Bekah Wright · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book initially had me despising Hans Christian Anderson, but by the end I sympathized with him entirely.

I don’t know why I’m surprised, but it turns out that Charles Dickinson was an as$.

The writing is fantastic! The book takes place in three points of views, starting with the children, then Charles Dickens, then Hans Christian Anderson. As a result, some of the information seems duplicated and redundant.

I’m not sure how to rate this book because there’s only a short afterward. I expected to see much more information about the liberties that the author took so I’m just unclear of how much of this is true.

[Michele · Rating 1 out of 5]

I really tried with this book for over a week. I finally am giving it a DNF at 176 pages. I just could not spend any more time on such a miserable novel. I give the author credit for writing so effectively that I pretty much despised everyone in the story. Sad, depressing, and annoying is my description of this story. HCA is clearly on the spectrum, and Dickens is a narcissistic whiner. Nothing in this book made me want to finish it or find out what happens. The summary already tells us Dickens divorced his wife.

[Peter · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted this book to be amusing, revealing, creative, insightful, enjoyable. Something. If it is possible I enjoyed this book less than Dickens enjoyed his visit from Andersen.

I confess I did not finish it.

[Echo · Rating 3 out of 5]

I admit that I am a little obsessed with the HCA and Dickens long visit story. I must not be the only one because a novel was written.

[Sherry Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved everything about this book!!! The characters, the time line, and I always love anything with Charles Dickens!

[Kerry]

Wow. Another book that was clogging up my library holds list for weeks that is the opposite of delightful. What a disappointment. At least it depicts Dickens as the awful human being that he was.