London based Jessie Burton - formerly an actress who studied at the Central School of Speech and Drama with roles at the National, the Donmar and the Young Vic - has turned her hand to writing with a novel that sparked bidding wars in the US and is sure to take the book industry by storm when it's published in July.

The Miniaturist is a feminist novel set in Amsterdam in 1686 about two women's journeys to find freedom in a repressive society and has already been described by The Guardian as a 'fabulously gripping read'. Echoing Hilary Mantel, Margaret Atwood and Tracey Chevalier, The Miniaturist sets itself apart with its unique subject matter, inspired by Burton's travels to the Netherlands and following the story of Nella Oortman and a mysterious wedding gift.