Milly's novel sets luxury train on track for trips for Norwegian passengers
Bosses of the luxury Yorkshire-owned Northern Belle train are having to brush up their Norwegian language skills because of best-selling Barnsley author Milly Johnson.
Her latest novel, Let the Bells Ring Out, which take its inspiration from the 1930s Pullman-style express, will be published in the Scandinavian country next month.
And already advance publicity has led to several inquiries from Oslo about taking a trip on the train, which was once dubbed “the Grand Duchess of luxury” by actor Bill Nighy.
A spokesman said: “Milly’s novel is putting the Northern Belle on the map around the world. But we are not surprised at the reaction from Norway.
“The same thing happened when her lovely book was published in Latvia and Finland earlier this year.”
The novel tells the story of seven strangers who are thrown together over Christmas when a luxury train gets stuck in a huge snowdrift.
One British reviewer said it “captures the true meaning of connection, kindness and finding light when the world feels dark.”
Milly, who was moved to write the book after taking a slap-up trip on the Northern Belle, paid tribute to the train in the ‘acknowledgments’ at the end of her novel, saying: “This beautiful train was on my doorstep.
“Dining on the Northern Belle is one of the loveliest experiences – it’s like stepping back in time. It’s the closest I’ve ever felt to being a queen. You should treat yourself."
She also said a special thank you to Wakefield businessman David Pitts, who owns it, saying he was “rightly proud of his gorgeous train”.
The Northern Belle, once part of the iconic Belmond Orient Express group, has its own musicians to serenade passengers during dinner.
A tartan-clad piper will welcome the train to Sheffield Midland station for three Christmas shopping trips to Edinburgh during November and December.
There will also be several slap-up Yorkshire Christmas Lunch specials, when passengers will be served a seven-course banquet.
Fares on the Northern Belle start at £445. For more details, see www.northernbelle.co.uk
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