Éloïse Durand

Hello — I’m Éloïse Durand, founder and editor of Storyscoutes Co (https://www.storyscoutes.co.uk). I’m a lifelong reader, a former bookseller and a literature graduate whose curiosity has always pulled me toward the overlooked, the misfiled and the quietly brilliant works that rarely make the bestseller lists. At Storyscoutes Co I do what I love most: unearth hidden literary treasures and share them with readers who want to wander off the well-trodden shelf.

My writing blends careful close reading with a taste for discovery. I publish reviews, author interviews, deep reads and reading guides that help you approach forgotten classics, emerging voices and neglected corners of the literary landscape. I’m interested less in hype and more in why a book matters—how it was made, what it reveals about its time, and what it can still say to us now.

I trained in literature and editorial practice, and I spent several years working in independent bookshops and cultural programming. That background taught me to listen to readers, to dig beyond marketing copy, and to spot authors whose work rewards patience. Over the years I’ve interviewed novelists, poets and translators, and I’ve written essays that trace the hidden threads between books and their wider contexts.

On Storyscoutes Co you’ll find a mix of short, practical reviews to help you decide what to read next, longer “deep reads” that unpack a single text or theme, and curated reading guides designed for exploration—routes through a genre, a period, or a theme. My aim is to spark curiosity: to give you entry points and accompaniments for readings that surprise and stay with you.

I try to write with clarity, warmth and a sense of play. I’m especially drawn to work by authors who have been overlooked by mainstream attention—writers from different geographies, underrepresented communities, and earlier eras whose relevance has been waiting to be rediscovered. I also celebrate confident newcomers whose voices reshape what contemporary literature can be.

If you’re a reader who loves getting lost in books, hunting for the next small revelation, or building thoughtful reading lists, you’ll find a welcome here. I’m always open to tips, suggestions and conversation about neglected books and the best routes through them—send a note through the contact page on Storyscoutes Co or reach me via the site’s social links.

Thanks for visiting. I hope the pieces here lead you to unexpected pleasures, new obsessions and the quiet joy of discovering a book that feels like a secret finally told.