Smallest Man

Nat Davy has been known across the country for a long time, though most people have heard only part of his story. In 1625 a single shilling set his life on a new course. He was carried off to London and concealed in a pie so that he could be presented as a gift to the new queen of England. At court he was called the queen's dwarf, but he became much more to her: a companion when she had few others, and later the one who protected her life as the English people rose against their king. He was at the centre of these upheavals, and this is his account of them.

The novel is inspired by a true story and covers two decades that transformed England. Nat's voice drives the narrative, and his wit sits alongside the hardships he faces. The book explores what it means to be different and how a person can refuse to let that define them, along with the courage needed to take a risk when the odds are poor. It also looks at how loyalty between friends can endure while the world around them collapses.