Human, Animal
A family's journey through conflict and self-discovery
Format:Paperback
Publisher:Verve Books
Publishing:20th Feb '25
£10.99
This title is due to be published on 20th February, and will be despatched as soon as possible.
This debut novel explores a family's struggle for connection amidst personal and societal upheaval, revealing deep-seated secrets that challenge their bonds.
In Human, Animal, readers are introduced to George Calvert, a dairy farmer grappling with the pressures of modern life. As he struggles to maintain his family's farm, George is caught in a web of denial regarding his business's decline, his mother's deteriorating health, and his contentious relationship with his youngest son, Tom. This tension is palpable, as George's reluctance to adapt to change sets the stage for conflict within the family.
Tom, freshly returned from university, finds himself retreating into the confines of his childhood room, wrestling with his identity and the expectations placed upon him. His isolation becomes a symbol of the generational divide, as he grapples with the realities of his upbringing and the values he wishes to embrace. The arrival of animal rights activists serves as a catalyst for confrontation, forcing Tom to confront his beliefs and his father's traditional views.
As the Calvert family begins to unravel, a long-buried secret threatens to emerge, one that could either fracture their already strained relationships or provide a pathway to understanding and healing. Human, Animal is not just a story of familial struggle but also a poignant exploration of our connection to nature, identity, and each other, ultimately offering a glimmer of hope amidst the chaos of change.
Beautifully, skilfully told with real tension and gorgeous characters, Human, Animal moved me to tears. Seth Insua writes with so much kindness, empathy and wisdom; everyone is understood and forgiven and revealed. The narrative sneaks up in tiny moments packed with emotion that never become overwrought. Taut, precise, witty, insightful, it barrelled me along. Remarkable, inspirational writing -- Russell T Davies
Human, Animal is a formidable saga of British farming - spinning a moving tale of belonging, family, and land that brings country life into fierce reckoning with the modern world. As vital and sweeping as the countryside it enfolds us in -- Scott Preston, author of The Borrowed Hills
Human, Animal is a masterclass in empathy, perfect for our divided present (and past) times. Astutely emotional and lyrical while never being overwrought, Insua's quietly gorgeous prose delivers huge, profound moments about what it means to belong, care for, inherit and live amongst humans and animals. It is a beautiful addition to the family saga and rural queer canons - and don't we need more of those! I love this book! -- Henry Fry, author of First Time For Everything
A beautiful, clever debut, written with such tenderness for its muddled, struggling cast. Seth Insua balances polarised worlds - the young and old, the urban and rural, the expected and forbidden - to create a novel so full of generosity and insight -- Abigail Dean, author of Girl A and Day One
Seth Insua probes the spaces between black-and-white-thinking with immeasurable sensitivity. Insua holds a mirror up to the 'good' of animal rights campaigning, and the 'evil' of dairy farming, to show that the lines aren't so clear cut, and that life is much messier. Messy, also, is the conflict between traditional values and the advancement of modern technology, of trying to express one's queerness in such a hypermasculine setting. Human, Animal manages to explore all this, and the anxious convergence of the past, present and future, with staggering clarity. A truly impressive debut -- Joshua Jones, author of Local Fires
ISBN: 9780857308894
Dimensions: unknown
Weight: unknown
320 pages