A Saint in Swindon
by Alice Jolly
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Pub Date Apr 15 2020 | Archive Date Jun 10 2020
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Description
When a stranger arrives in town, with a bulging blue bag and a whiff of adventure, the neighbourhood takes notice. When he asks for his meals to be sent to his room and peace and quiet for reading, curiosity turns to obsession. Each day he stays there, locked in his room, demanding books: Plath, Kafka, Orwell, Lawrence, Fitzgerald, James, Bronte (the eldest), Dickens, Dumas, Kesey – on and on, the stranger never leaving his room. Who exactly is he? What is he reading? And will it be able to save us from the terrible state of the world?
Written by award-winning author Alice Jolly, and based on an idea by the book lovers of Swindon town, this funny and, ultimately, dystopian tale, reminds us of the importance of literature in an increasingly dark world.
Advance Praise
'An entertaining, comedic yet profound meditation on the replenishment and complications of reading in dystopia.' —Diana Evans, author of Ordinary People, shortlisted for The Women's Prize for Fiction 2019
‘This book demonstrates that the reader can have a truly symbiotic relationship with the writer. The result is an insight into a fascinating and inspiring world of reading!’ —Debbie Hicks MBE, Creative Director, The Reading Agency
Available Editions
| EDITION | Paperback |
| ISBN | 9781912054206 |
| PRICE | £7.99 (GBP) |
Featured Reviews
Urbano R, Educator
It's 2030 and the days are getting hotter and hotter. A mysterious man arrives at a B&B, carrying nothing but a lumpy bag. He checks into his room; days pass and he does not come out. He does nothing but read and ask for more books. Soon questions are flying around the town and speculations spread like a virus. Is he a criminal? A celebrity in hiding? A saint? Is he reading to show others the way? As crowds begin to gather, and the urge to read becomes contagious , the outside world moves ever closer to its doom...
I adored this funny little novella and can't wait to read more by Alice Jolly. Her prose was crisp and clever and the plot and characters engaging. I also enjoyed the foreword explaining how the collaborative process used to create the story.
Highly recommended for anyone looking for a slightly strange story to read in these slightly strange days of 2020.
Thank you to NetGalley and Fairlight books for the chance to read this book in exchange for a fair review.
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