Stump - Softcover

Griffiths, Niall

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1555974155 ISBN 13: 9781555974152

Publisher: Graywolf Press, 2005

Synopsis

"Stump makes you feel that you are reading on the edge of a life in a fierce gale, vulnerable, excited, alive."--The Guardian (London)

Wet an spectacular wreckage leads to "powerful forgetting" which leads to "periodics" which lead to the "dry drunks" which go to "immersion" an "enabler" an "therapeutic alliance" an any alternative, any fuckin alternative atropine aversion therapy or Antabuse or ECT or acufuckinpuncture or snakepits or swimming with dolphins an all of that all of it comes completely back to this one pure irreducible phenomenon: a booming heart that burns to drink.

It has taken the loss of a limb and a death threat from the Mob to make one Liverpudlian dry out and move to a small seaside town in Wales. But his past life is a recurring nightmare--filth, desperation, and blackouts. And more trouble is only a hundred miles away. Darren and Alastair leave Liverpool, heading south in a rickety old car. They have been sent by their gang boss to wreak violent revenge, but they have only a rough idea of their quarry: a one-armed man.

Interspersed between the scabrous banter and a pitch-perfect street dialect, Niall Griffiths offers stunning descriptions of the Welsh landscape and a dark, knowing humor. Despite the ever present drugs, violence, and anger, he reveals a fragile humanity. Graywolf is proud to introduce this striking, distinctive voice to American readers.

About this title

Review:

"He is an epic and, at moments, visionary writer-Griffiths, through this man's gentle but raging voice, gives one of the great depictions of alcoholism" (Toby Litt, Guardian)

"Niall Griffiths is an actual literary star. He writes with vim and sympathy about the things young people do" (Daily Telegraph)

"In the top rank of contemporary British authors...He brings tremendous rhythm and energy to his prose" (Herald)

"Stump is the author's gentlest and funniest book by far-He has a prose style as compelling and seductive as any writer in the land" (Big Issue)

"The range of Griffiths's achievement is as exhilarating as the reach of his ambition" (Guardian)

From the Publisher:

Black farce from the author of Kelly + Victor and Sheepshagger.

About this edition

• Publisher: Graywolf Press
• Publication date: 2005
• ISBN 10: 1555974155
• ISBN 13: 9781555974152
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 206