The Constant Rabbit
The Sunday Times bestseller
Format:Paperback
Publisher:Hodder & Stoughton
Published:22nd Jul '21
Should be back in stock very soon
In The Constant Rabbit, a family of human-sized rabbits disrupts a conservative village, prompting a resident to confront his own beliefs and societal norms.
In The Constant Rabbit, Jasper Fforde presents a whimsical yet thought-provoking satire that explores the impact of a family of human-sized rabbits moving into the traditionally conservative village of Much Hemlock. This unexpected arrival challenges the status quo, as the rabbits, who possess a unique culture and lifestyle, stir up both curiosity and controversy among the human residents. The narrative delves into themes of acceptance, prejudice, and the complexities of societal norms, all while maintaining a humorous and imaginative tone.
The story centers around Peter Knox, a long-time resident of Much Hemlock, who finds himself torn between his established life and the growing tensions surrounding the new rabbit family. As a mass relocation of rabbits looms, Peter is faced with a critical choice: align with the Rabbit Compliant Taskforce for job security or stand in solidarity with the rabbits, risking backlash from his community. This dilemma serves as a microcosm for broader societal issues, reflecting on the nature of humanity and the importance of empathy.
The Constant Rabbit invites readers to reflect on their own values and the societal structures that shape their lives. With Fforde's signature blend of humor and sharp social commentary, this novel encourages a deeper understanding of what it means to coexist in a diverse world. It is a story about finding humanity in the most unexpected places, reminding us that compassion can often come from the most unlikely of sources.
A serious minded comedy * Mail on Sunday *
A political satire cloaked in Fforde's trademark bizarre whimsy, the novel reads like a crazed cross between Watership Down and Nineteen Eighty-Four. * Guardian *
Fforde's engaging writing has created a story that is a clever blend of the biting allegorical satire we expect from Orwell's greatest hits and the good-natured adventures of Michael Bond's naïve and kind-hearted Paddington Bear. * SciFi Now *
Jasper Fforde's most chilling and realistic book yet * Guardian *
The Constant Rabbit is designed to shake readers out of that complacency: to recognise that merely holding liberal values is not enough to prevent the quickening advance of racism and xenophobia in this country. * Financial Times *
It's huge fun too, with all the inventive wordplay, impeccable worldbuilding and fiendish plotting that Fforde's "Constant Readers" have come to expect. * SFX *
Fuelled by Fforde's trademark wit, imagination and brilliantly bizarre world-building... You won't read anything quite like this in 2020 - or beyond that too. * CultureFly *
Sheer inventiveness, wit, complexity, erudition, unexpectedness and originality * The Times *
A born wordsmith of effervescent imagination * Independent *
Forget all the rules of time, space and reality; just sit back and enjoy the adventure * Telegraph *
Brilliantly funny . . . His relentless imagination and his affection for his characters are contagious and irresistible * New York Times *
True literary comic genius * Sunday Express *
Reading a Fforde novel feels like taking off on a magic carpet, only to be picked up by another and another and taken on new flights of fantasy . . . you just sit back and enjoy the ride * Scotsman *
Jasper Fforde's entertaining, surprisingly thoughtful yet fleet-footed new book-a standalone novel with a climax so dramatic, irrevocable, perfect yet unpredictable that it seems impossible to extend the book to a series-is the comedic master's foray into this thematic realm. It is, as one might expect, by turns droll and hilarious, poignant and cruel, hopeful and despairing. In other words, a true comedy in depth, a form that is not mere mindless japes and slapstick, but one which counsels us that if we don't laugh, we must cry. * Locus *
An astonishingly well-crafted work of social and political satire * Kirkus Reviews *
Lovely little satire...wonderfully imaginative and very funny. * Spectator *
ISBN: 9781444763645
Dimensions: 196mm x 128mm x 22mm
Weight: 230g
320 pages