Of Beasts and Beings

Simon & Schuster/Europa Editions, 2010

Militia seize an innocent captive and subject him to a nightmarish overland journey that feels as though it will never end. Meanwhile, a lonely white schoolteacher wrestles personal demons whilst attempting to overcome the everyday difficulties of a life in which power cuts last for months at a time, homes are left without running water, brawls break out over even the most basic necessities and an atmosphere of fear and intimidation presides. Which of them is in the gravest danger, and does either have the power to escape their fate?

In this highly original, searing and timely new novel, we witness the devastating effects of a country's economic and moral collapse. In a world where greed, barbarism, anarchy and lawlessness are rife, how do the honest survive? Is it possible to keep a conscience when all those around you have lost theirs?

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Praise for Of Beasts and Beings

‘Reminiscent of the hallucinatory lyricism of Michael Ondaatje or Chris Abani ... it resonates with complex ideas about the wages of oppression, racial guilt, and psychological isolation.’ | THE DAILY BEAST

‘Extraordinary ... as audacious as it is surprising.’ |THE DAILY MAIL

‘Expansive and definitive ... atmospheric and thought-provoking.’ | THE GUARDIAN

‘Over the last few years one of the most remarkable books I have read is Of Beasts and Beings by Ian Holding. It is stunning and original, almost Blakean in its vision.’ | MICHAEL ONDAATJE, AUTHOR OF The English Patient

‘At once merciless, poetic and beautiful ... a postmodern elegy I won’t soon forget.’ |ALICE SEBOLD, AUTHOR OF The Lovely Bones

‘A memorable and original novel.’ | THE INDEPENDENT

‘Holding delivers another powerful tale.’ | PUBLISHERS WEEKLY

‘Beautifully written, Holding dazzles with every word, conjuring the raw, unrelenting instincts which drive people.’ | LIVERPOOL DAILY POST

‘Holding conveys staggering emotions ... a poetic lament’ |CAPE TIMES

‘The vivid descriptions, both physical and emotive, are particularly poignant ... and defines it from other stories around at the moment. The much needed honesty allows our minds to travel and Holding triumphs in taking us there.’ | THE RIGHT COPY

‘Holding’s percussive prose culminates in a final twist that adds dimension to the tale.’ | KIRKUS REVIEW

‘Dramatic, horrifying and filled with vibrant language which swirls around ... this novel is a heartfelt cry for understanding in a place where it appears to be rare.’ | MARY WHIPPLE REVIEW