The Porpoise
Format:Paperback
Publisher:Vintage Publishing
Published:16th Apr '20
Should be back in stock very soon
A motherless girl lives in seclusion with her wealthy father, feeling an unsettling disconnection. She finds escape in stories of ancient worlds, blurring the lines between reality and imagination in The Porpoise.
In The Porpoise, bestselling author Mark Haddon weaves a captivating tale that blurs the lines between reality and fantasy. The story centers around a motherless girl who lives in the luxurious isolation created by her wealthy father. Initially, she believes their life is perfectly normal; however, as she matures, a nagging sense of unease begins to grow within her. This feeling hints at deeper issues in their relationship, prompting her to seek refuge in the pages of her beloved books.
Her favorite stories transport her to ancient worlds filled with angry gods and heroic figures, where she imagines a savior who will one day come to her aid. This escapism becomes a vital part of her existence as she struggles to reconcile her sheltered life with the unsettling reality around her. As she immerses herself in these tales, the boundaries between her imagination and the narratives she reads start to blur, leading her into a realm where anything is possible.
Haddon's storytelling is described as a full-throttle blast of storytelling mastery, offering readers a wild adventure that seamlessly transitions between the present and ancient times. Critics have praised the novel as a breathless, delightful, utterly absorbing read, highlighting its ability to transport readers into a vivid and enchanting experience. The Porpoise invites exploration of themes such as isolation, imagination, and the quest for freedom, making it a profound and engaging narrative.
Wondrous... a violent, all-action thrill ride shuttling between antiquity and the present... just downright brilliant... a transcendant, transporting experience... A helix, a mirror ball, a literary box of tricks… take your pick: this is a full-spectrum pleasure, mixing metafictional razzmatazz with pulse-racing action and a prose style to die for. I’ll be staggered if it’s not spoken of whenever prizes are mentioned this year -- Anthony Cummins * Observer *
A beautifully rendered retelling…[and] a gripping novel that, despite its rollicking plot, never feels relentless, and is often very affecting indeed -- Jon Day * Financial Times *
The extraordinary force and vividness of Haddon's prose ensure that The Porpoise reads [...] as a continually unfolding demonstration of the transporting power of stories... This is language that knows how to do things: sail a ship, make a gold buckle, negotiate the tides of the Thames. It's a stunningly effective combination of the quotidian and the mythic that pins impossibility to the page -- Justine Jordan * Guardian *
Compelling, satisfying and moving... Haddon's writing is exquisite, balancing simple storytelling with searing insight -- Paul Connolly * Metro *
The Porpoise is terrifically violent, with a bright, innocent ferocity … Haddon wants to restore agency to the female characters sidelined by the Antiochus legend. This could feel like a condescending attempt to end up on the right of history, but doesn’t -- Katy Waldman * The New Yorker *
- Short-listed for The Goldsmiths Prize 2019 (UK)
ISBN: 9781529110708
Dimensions: 198mm x 129mm x 20mm
Weight: 237g
336 pages