I hate surprises. Like, pretty much the worst thing you could ever do to me is throw me a surprise party hate them. And yet, there is a kind of surprise I do love. And it’s when I’m introduced to unexpected pairings—the kind of things that shouldn’t work together, and yet are absolutely amazing.

Now, imagine the combination of two entirely different creative individuals, separated by more than a century, by nationality, and media. An acclaimed and highly prolific British novelist from the Victorian era, and a highly prolific, and sometimes highly acclaimed, pop musician from the 1980s.

What would you get it you put those together? Something only Nick Hornby could write.

This is Dickens and Prince⁠⁠⁠, and it might just be your next favorite book.