After a chance encounter with a Portuguese woman inspires middle-aged Classics scholar Raimund Gregorius to impulsively buy a book the respected teacher walks out on his job to move to Lisbon. Raimund’s journey to track down the author of the book takes him throughout the city where he meets a disparate and eccentric cast of characters. Brimming with wit, humanity and warmth, fans of Amelie, A Gentleman In Moscow and great literature will find much to enjoy here.

Picked by John

Night Train to Lisbon follows Raimund Gregorius, a 57-year-old Classics scholar, on a journey that takes him across Europe. Abandoning his job and his life and travelling with a dusty old book as his talisman, he heads for Lisbon in search of clues to the life of the book’s Portuguese author, Amadeu de Prado. As he gets swept up in his quest, he finds that the journey is also one of self-discovery, as he reencounters all the decisions he has made – and not made – in his life, and faces the roads not travelled.