The Society of Literary Marauders

by Sasha Wasley

‘Wasley is an Austen for our times.’ – Tess Woods, author of The Venice Hotel and Love and Other Battles ‘A heartfelt celebration of literature, rebellion and the bonds of friendship.’ – Kelly Rimmer, author of The Midnight Estate and The Paris Agent ‘Intelligent and deftly plotted’ – Books + Publishing

At Oxford University, 1928, four young women make a secret  I hereby undertake to take and read any book kept away from nice young ladies.

They’ve come from unlikely corners of the British brickworker’s daughter Annie, wealthy flapper Ridley, refined Parsi aristocrat Dorelia and disheartened schoolteacher Norma. They call themselves the Society of Literary Marauders and the price of entry is having stolen a book.

Their illicit meetings rapidly become a lifeline in a world where knowledge is power, and women are fed lies and half-truths. They start with small misdemeanours – getting their hands on banned books, stealing back historical records claimed by the men’s colleges. But over time, they become aware of a true literary injustice – and they slowly formulate a plan to put this historical wrong to right … 

Full of intrigue, literary drama and the joy of rebellious female friendships, this stunning novel is an unputdownable joy from first page to last.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Book Club, Audiobook, Historical, Romance, Historical Romance

Kindle Edition

Published March 31, 2026

Reviews

[Gloria (Ms. G's Bookshelf) · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️4 Stars⭐️
The Society of Literary Marauders by Sasha Wasley is a delightful literary drama, it’s a smart and inspiring read that explores the joy of rebellion.

It’s the year 1928 and young Annie Trew who comes from a working class family is about to pursue the opportunity of attending Somerville College in Oxford where only a small number of female students attend.

Annie quickly makes friends there and the four women bond over a shared pledge to read banned books for ‘nice young ladies’ and form a secret club they name The Society of Literary Marauders and boy do they get into a lot of mischief, including a plan to put a literary injustice right.

I loved the friendships and camaraderie between the four diverse women and how the story highlighted how it was for the women in this male dominated educational setting along with race and class discrimination. What an immersive, fun and heartfelt tale of friendship, love and adventure. I also enjoyed the late night hot cocoa party sessions with marshmallows, delicious! ☕️

If you love stories that are bookish and have strong female friendships and are about courage and standing up for what you believe in this will resonate with you.

Publication Date 31 March 2026
Publisher Pantera Press

Thank you so much Pantera Press for a copy of the book.

[Brooke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sasha Wasley’s brand new novel The Society of Literary Marauders is a fabulous historical fiction read set at Oxford University. It was a five star read that I binged over the weekend.

Set in 1928, Annie Trew, an Aussie brickworker’s daughter is awarded a coveted place at Somerville College, Oxford, with a small number of other female students. On board the ship to England, she meets the wealthy and fun-loving Ridley and despite their differences the pair strike up a friendship. Completing their foursome at the college are Parsi aristocrat Dorelia and disheartened Northern schoolteacher Norma. Following a discussion about stealing books, they form a secret group, The Society of Literary Marauders, where the price of entry is having taken a book that doesn’t belong to them. At each meeting, they read a contentious or banned book and what follows is their realisation that knowledge is power and is often withheld from those who are not men of the upper classes. Seeking to take back control and right injustices, the four formulate a risky plan that could see them all kicked out of this academic world for good.

The Society of Literary Marauders was a powerful story of female friendship and striving for your dreams despite challenges and hardship. The historical detail woven throughout the narrative was so intriguing and I loved experiencing the Oxford life through these characters’ eyes. The vast chasm between male and female education and resources at the university in 1928 was very obvious and Sasha has done a wonderful job of highlighting the classism and sexism experienced by women in this setting.

There were some excellent political discussions sprinkled throughout between Annie and some of the upper class characters and it was wonderful to see how true to herself and her beliefs she was. Annie never backed down in the face of dismissal or belittling from these people who seemed to think they knew so much more than a working class woman from the colonies. I was cheering Annie on throughout each of these interactions as the rhetoric became more and more infuriating.

This was a book that I fell in love with for both the characters and the story. The absolute highlight was the friendships between this tight knit circle of women and their support and loyalty towards one another. It was so heartening and beautiful to read.

The story was so full of emotion, it had me laughing and crying and I really didn’t want it to end. When I turned that final page I felt such loss at having to let these characters go, but my heart was also full from this fabulous story.

I alternated reading the physical book with listening to the audiobook wonderfully narrated by Eleanor Howell. The distinct accents and intonations made the audio experience so enjoyable, I definitely recommend it.

[Laurena · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great story - well written with Australian and world history, political and social themes, romance, friendship and comradeship all in one. Thoroughly enjoyable.

[Ita · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a fun historical novel, I laughed out loud a few times!

[jenna rees · Rating 3 out of 5]

look idk how to feel. at first glance, i was intrigued. but, the story itself (the plot, characters etc) didn’t do what i think wasley wanted it to do. i was expecting more mystery and more suspense. the romance was quite sweet and i liked that side of the novel but overall was slightly disappointed :(

[Ellen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amusing, has theft of library items (which is a problem). It is about education, class and family.

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such an enjoyable story! Four very different girls meet at Oxford University in 1928 and form a society where they steal banned and salacious books. Through their reading and experiences, they become fast friends despite their differences and learn where to place boundary lines so that others won't take advantage of them.

[Lizzies.Little.Library · Rating 4 out of 5]

❤️MS Readathon Book Five❤️

🗺️The Society of Literary Marauders by Sasha Wasley🗺️

This book felt like it was written for readers who believe books have the power to change the world (hello, it’s me!) 😍

The Society of Literary Marauders blends historical fiction, mystery and feminist themes into an engaging story about four women who dare to question the rules they've been taught to follow. Their secret society begins with stolen books but quickly grows into something much bigger, and I loved watching their confidence and determination evolve throughout the novel.

The Oxford setting is absolutely charming, filled with libraries, colleges and hidden corners that gave the story a wonderfully atmospheric feel. As a book lover, I couldn't help smiling at all the discussions about literature, banned books and the importance of giving forgotten voices the recognition they deserve 👏🏼

What stood out most, though, was the friendship between Annie, Ridley, Dorelia and Norma. Despite coming from completely different walks of life, they support one another in ways that are heartfelt, inspiring and genuinely moving. Their sisterhood gave the novel so much warmth 🥰

The story takes its time developing both the characters and the mystery, so readers looking for fast-paced historical fiction may find it a little slower than expected. For me, though, the rich character work more than made up for it.

Overall, this is a thoughtful, empowering novel celebrating curiosity, courage and the women who refused to let history write them out of the story. Just gorgeous!

Thank you so much to @panterapress for sending me a copy to review along with this box of fabulous goodies, I feel so spoilt and am so grateful as always 🙏🏼

QOTD: What is a book that has stayed with you?

#thesocietyofliterarymarauders #sashawasley #bookreview #msreadathon

[Kim (hundredacreofbooks.com) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Four women. One secret society. A rule-breaking love of books…

and I knew instantly this was my kind of story. There’s something irresistible about women defying expectations—especially when it comes to forbidden books—and this one pulled me in from the very first page. Honestly, I would have joined them without hesitation.

Read my full review over on
https://hundredacreofbooks.com/index....

[Hayley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book surprised me in all the best ways. Charming and warming and just delightful. And a creative but poignant end that I didn't see coming.

[Julia S · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another brilliant book by one of our own Australian Authors!

I had the absolute pleasure of seeing Sasha Wasley at her book launch event at Mitcham Library and it was such a fantastic night hearing all about The Society of Literary Marauders. At that point in time, I had read perhaps a third of the book and I was so heavily involved and invested with the characters and the storyline of this incredible read.

I was immediately drawn in by the premise of this book. Four ladies in the 1920's at Oxford University are thrown together even though they are all from vastly different backgrounds. They form The Society of Literary Marauders, where the condition of entry is having stolen a book. Amidst a time where Education is a male dominated world, they then take it upon themselves to read books that are deemed not suitable for ladies.

I loved this book - I found the friendship and camaraderie found between Annie, Ridley, Dorelia and Norma so heartwarming and wholesome. They may have had different opinions on various topics, but when needed, they all banded together to support each other when in need.

Wasley has written such a fantastic historical novel which encapsulates so many topics including politics, societal issues and the immense differences between the education of males and females at that point in time. Amongst all this though, there was a lot fun, mischief and all around shenanigans and maybe even a bit of romance...

[Pip Snort · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book, like so many modern historical novels, fails the authenticity test. It is extraordinarily convenient how characters from 100 years ago have modern morals and similar left wing political views to many of the book's likely readers. While some people of the time would have differed from the norm, to have so many neatly clustered together is rather stretching the bounds of credibility.

That said lively pranks and adventures would have occurred, so it is a little sad that the author's imagination limited her to more modern behaviour.

[Em__Jay · Rating 3 out of 5]

Entertaining overall, with some interesting historical insights.

I did feel somewhat duped by the book blurb. The story is told from Annie's point of view, and most of it is about her. The other three are mostly the supporting cast. A pity, because I found them to be interesting characters. I also wished there was more actual literary marauding.

Eleanor Howell did a great job narrating the book.

[Kate Downey · Rating 4 out of 5]

An outwardly fun and frothy read with surprising bite.
I started this thinking I might not be its target reader (if there is such a thing?) and ended it admitting Wasley has done a ripper job of both entertaining me and giving me ideas to chew on.
There are many, many things to love about this novel from that luscious cover to the notes provided at the end but what I admired most was how we witness the changes in thinking of our quatuor of young(ish) ladies recently admitted to Somerville College, Oxford—the uncertainty that develops into confidence, the adjusting of their views as they come up against new attitudes and information about each other and the society they moved in previously and move in now.
Wasley knows how to engage our feelings, has us rooting for the underdogs, eager for justice to be served and for love to win out. It's friendship that is the heart of this novel, a fiercely dogged friendship which allows our four girls more than survive the many obstacles the Oxford universe throws at them.
As a peek into what it might have been like as a young woman in a social setting designed for the furthering of the privileged males, and newly adapting (poor men) to the inclusion of the female sex within their hallowed halls, Wasley has done her research. From the curfews, restrictions and 'policing' of appearances, to the cocoa evenings, unauthorised outings and subsequent fines, the set up was perfection for a bunch of rebellious young women to involve themselves in acquiring banned books and the (ahem) re-appropriation of items fallen into the wrong, or unworthy(?) hands.
I loved all our four main characters. I loved Annie's working class worrying, her spunk and her frank admission that as an Australian she feels her cultural heritage is in Britain, that Australia's cultural heritage, being indigenous, was not hers which is ever a topic of contention. I also liked very much how the author feeds us the background stories of all four young women at different rates giving us an insight into tight-lipped Norma quite late in the sequence of events whereas we have Ridley (the flapper) firmly squared from early on.
All in all, a cracker of a read that allowed a deeper look at at racial inequality, at class divide and how that affects access to education (among other things) and to certain strata of society, at eugenics, at the theft of artefacts from colonial outposts, at the equality of the sexes, at belonging.
For all its frivolous outfits, this is a novel with backbone.

[Maryanne Kipping · Rating 2 out of 5]

As quite a few readers have commented,this is a very well written book but slightly long winded.
Told from Ann's point of view who would have been called woke in our age with definite communist leanings with three fairly under developed female friends making up a story that takes place at Oxford.

I am leaving out the sexism, Eugenics,the unacceptance of gays and so much more ,to concentrate on the constant and obvious dislike of Britain that the author seems to have.

I think most white Australians are aware that we havent always got it right. We are constantly told this.
Ann seemed to me to be to "advanced" in her thinking.
My grandparents were of her age and they described just putting food on the table being a big enough struggle, so I doubt the average Aussie of that time really gave much thought to.the plight of our Aboriginals..or for that matter much of anything else that Ann struggled with and worried about.

The characters were certainly diverse..we had the rich privileged white girl ,the struggling woke white girl,the Indian girl oppressed by British rule and a girl who may or may not have been gay.All gathering breathlessly to discuss the various topics from the books they had marauded.

I am sorry..the whole book,while excellently written,dragged. I found Ann annoying with her attitudes and some of the characters quite unbelievable..Lady Susan being the main bug bear.

I enjoyed the actual phrasing of the book,the romance was as you would expect but I found the anti British lecturing tiring.

The two stars are for the writing.

[Leeanne McHarg · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the idea behind this book, but unfortunately, I felt it missed the mark in a few areas.
The Oxford setting was brilliant, and I loved the premise of these four women being among the first women to attend Oxford. However, I felt there wasn’t actually enough to the Society itself. I expected it to play a much bigger role in the story, but instead, the focus seemed to be primarily on Annie.

To be honest, I really struggled to like Annie. At times, it felt as though she spent the entire story looking down her nose at people because they hadn’t experienced the same level of poverty or hardship that she had. She seemed to have very strong opinions about how everyone else should view the world, regardless of their own upbringing or personal history, and somehow her perspective was always the right one.

What frustrated me most was that these four women had an incredible opportunity to be among the first women to attend Oxford, yet it felt like they valued almost everything else over the remarkable opportunity they had been given. I wanted to see more of their experiences at Oxford and more of the Society itself.

There were definitely enjoyable parts to the story, and I loved the setting and the overall premise. Unfortunately, though, there were just as many aspects that didn’t work for me, leaving me feeling that the book ultimately missed the mark.

[Judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting look at life for women in the 1920s, especially relating to learning.
Four young women from various backgrounds were attending Oxford University for different reasons and struggling with the harsh rules they had to follow - and having to pay "fines" for what we would consider trivial and unfair misdemeanours. The differences between classes, rich and poor, genders and nationalities were clearly depicted as well as their impacts on the four women.

At Oxford University, 1928, four young women make a secret I hereby undertake to take and read any book kept away from nice young ladies. They’ve come from unlikely corners of the British brickworker’s daughter Annie, wealthy flapper Ridley, refined Parsi aristocrat Dorelia and disheartened schoolteacher Norma. They call themselves the Society of Literary Marauders and the price of entry is having stolen a book. Their illicit meetings rapidly become a lifeline in a world where knowledge is power, and women are fed lies and half-truths. They start with small misdemeanours – getting their hands on banned books, stealing back historical records claimed by the men’s colleges. But over time, they become aware of a true literary injustice – and they slowly formulate a plan to put this historical wrong to right … Full of intrigue, literary drama and the joy of rebellious female friendships, this stunning novel is an unputdownable joy from first page to last. (less)

[Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was absolutely delightful! I really love being back in this period of time, there’s just something about it.

Set in the 1920’s, Annie leaves Australia and heads off to study at Oxford University, an amazing opportunity and from the moment she leaves you know this is going to be great.

Together, Annie, Ridley, Dorelia and Nora create The Society of Literary Marauders, where they read books “nice young ladies shouldn’t be reading”. They read a range of books but geez, did they get up to a whole lot of mischief as well! This group of friends was unstoppable.

Annie was the best! She wrote about things she shouldn’t, she spoke up, she did things she shouldn’t and stood up for herself. She was my favourite and Ridley was a lot of fun too!

This book was brilliant in so many ways! There was romance, literary drama, acts of rebellion, close friendships, lots of mischief and fun plus a lot more!

But Sasha also did a wonderful job highlighting what it was like in this male dominated education setting and the many levels of discrimination, from race to class, the rich versus the poor as well as sexism.

I thoroughly enjoyed it and highly recommend!

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oxford University, 1928.
And we meet four women bonded by their mutual love of banned books and disdain for the stifling rules placed upon them by the patriarchy.
Our FMC is working class Annie Trew, hater of captured animals and moderate fan of communism.
With her newfound friends they meet to read banned books, steal back what doesn’t belong to others and wreak havoc on their first University term.

I’m much more of a literary hoarder than a literary marauder but I loved this as historical fiction.
I loved learning about life at Oxford, I loved their sightseeing of London and I loved an FMC with zero filter and no ability to stand down from a verbal sparring session.
There was a long of bang for buck here; plot++
Literary musings and bountiful reflections on colonisation, feminism, race, political philosophies and social standing.
It was an interesting read on a slice of history that will have you reflecting on how much has changed jn 100 years.
For fans of historical fiction with strong female leads.

Thank you to Sasha Wasley and the team at Pantera press for sending me this gorgeous book box in exchange for an honest review.

[Silvia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I swung wildly on the pendulum when it came to this book. Based on the title and blurb, I expected the story to revolve more around the members of the club, the banned books and the literary injustice, but it felt like they took a back seat at times compared to Annie's university and relationship issues.

I really liked the cast of characters, how diverse they were in a multitude of ways and how many of them reflected on their circumstances and acknowledged the different privileges and prejudices they held. That said, it was jarring to have a book set in the 1920s with a cast that held every single left-wing ideology from 2026. It felt like I was being clubbed over the head with it at times: racism, classism, sexism, wealth disparities, slavery, colonisation, eugenics, unions, alcoholism, and these are just the ones I remember off the top of my head.

Kit and Annie were cute, but jfc Annie's whole "we can be poor together" thing was so annoying. A person who grew up cutting the rotten part of meat just to have something to eat isn't going turn down the pragmatism of having money. That really lowered the enjoyment factor for me.

[Melinda Charlesworth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Real women in Oxford, not long after women were admitted and able to study... sort of. I loved this take on burgeoning female presence in acadaemia.

"Books become like loved one," Dorelia said. "One begins to know the characters and words as if they're one's friends."
This quote captures the urge behind their need to read, to drink in all the literature available to them, despite inhibitive costs beyond their means and the suppression of 'inappropriate writing' by those who believe they know better.

Flavours of 'The Dictionary Of Lost Words' and referencing Virginia Woolf's 'A Room Of One's Own' only enhance this brilliant story of four young women who meet as fellow boarders at Somerville ready to dive into their dreams of learning and self-improvement (whether that be by bagging a rich man or furthering the socialist cause or establishing a career that will support the family) is a must read. I couldn't put it down and was sad to get to the last page.

I want to be a literary marauder!!!

[Meriam van Os · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars
The story is about Annie (or Dashie), a working class woman from Australia who goes to study at Oxford in the early 1900s. She develops close friendships with three woman from diverse backgrounds. They form the society of literary marauders and set out to steal books that are not meant to be read by "nice young ladies".

The book explores many themes, such as female friendships, class, culture, belonging, and standing for what you believe in.

I was very engaged throughout the entire book and finished it rather quickly. I loved the characters and they became to feel like actual friends. Sometimes I was annoyed at them for being so stubborn!

My only minor criticism would be that it felt a bit rushed towards the end. A lot happened in the last few chapters.

[Josie Rummukainen (Pereira) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the themes explored in this book, it felt jam packed with ethical and moral thoughts that shadow the way things are done today. From eugenics to the impact of social class and gender, the social and political ideologies discussed are still referenced in what I studied at university in the last decade. The context of oxford and Shakespeare, as well as the opulence of the 1920s gives these themes life and dimension .

The only downside to this book is how long it took me to get into the story. Although the scene setting that's required to discuss big questions takes time, it took me a while to engage with the characters in the necessary way to explore the story fully.

[Grace Lim · Rating 3 out of 5]

Had high hopes for this book based on the synopsis and premise but was kinda disappointed. It had everything I liked in a book - a women driven story and relationships, books, and “diversity”.

It wasn’t bad but I didn’t really connect to any of the characters as I felt that the characters were not fully developed and quite one dimensional. Also, frankly speaking, Annie was kind of annoying for most of the book. I really wanted to root for her (and I did) but boy did she make it hard many times with her whingeing and self pity. Like I understand her circumstances and she did “grow” at the end but still.

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

I .loved so much about this book; the main characters, the setting and the political and sexual discussions the girls have. I loved their idea of reading books nice young ladies should not be exposed to and that they seem to learn more in their society than in their lectures.

Some parts, however, did not ring true. Lady Susan for one. She managed to get the girls out of so much trouble, so easily. And did she have designs on Annie from the start? Miss Pottle: she was very one dimensional. And the theft from the library was completely unbelievable.

In spite of the flaws, I enjoyed the read.

[Heather Zubek · Rating 4 out of 5]

It wasn’t what I expected but still an enjoyable and insightful read. I was expecting a story about a group of young rebels at Oxford gathering in secret to read banned books. This was a tenuous thread throughout but the story ventured into a couple of romances, political intrigue and the class divide. I wanted to know more about issues that were only alluded to. Such great potential but still an entertaining read.

[Cate Alexander · Rating 5 out of 5]

A riveting coming of age story about societal expectations, sex, finding yourself, and the people you claim as your own along the way.

Sasha Wasley has written a must-read story for anyone who knows their people are out there but hasn't quite found them yet. Or anyone who remembers the journey to finding their place in the world.

Set in beautiful Oxford, with flashes of Australia as a startling contrast, the vivid imagery meant the setting was almost a character in its own right.

The Society of Literary Marauders is a reminder to be true to yourself, to remain curious, to advocate for change, and to always read the books they don't want you to read.

[Ali · Rating 4 out of 5]

I adored the cover of this book in the store and something in the blurb sparked my interest so I took a leap and bought it.

What a sweet book. I loved the mischief and the madness, even Annie driving me crazy with her foolish decisions time and time again. Lots of silliness and feminism, the friendships felt authentic and I loved the tracking around Oxford. It really didn't turn out anyway that I thought it would, and that's what made me love it.

[Danielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

All the ingredients for my favourite kind of historical fiction. Fun, educated, empowered female characters, Australian characters and overseas settings. Starting with a sea voyage and a Tasmanian Tiger sets you up for an engaging story. Plenty of Oxford University 1920s history and detail. The book club meetings are proper discussions and facts seem very well researched. The author must be very broadly read. Highly recommended.

[Rori · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this entire book in less than 24 hours. It felt like I was living with Annie, Ridley, Dorelia and Norma. Politics and equality and emotion and strength were all threaded throughout the story, and debated in ways that perfectly sounded like young women figuring themselves out, exploring new concepts with different approaches based on their backgrounds, sharing knowledge and perspective. I felt at home, I felt afraid and I fell in love just as Annie did.