Darkmans Thames Gateway Series, Book 3

Nicola Barker’s startling visionary narrative. If history is just a sick joke that keeps repeating itself, then who exactly is telling it - and why?Darkmans is a very modern book, set in Ashford (a ridiculously modern town), about two very old-fashioned subjects: love and jealousy. It’s also a book about invasion, obsession, displacement and possession, about comedy, art, prescription drugs and chiropody. And the main character? The past, which creeps up on the present and whispers something quite dark - quite unspeakable - into its ear."Still, this is a heavy thesis with which to frame a novel, and the book won’t be to everyone’s taste, especially those who need their novels to get somewhere quickly. “Darkmans” is for readers who enjoy nimble wordplay; for those patient enough to wait as the characters’ lives slowly intersect and draw closer to an ensemble encounter that, unfortunately for Harve’s shiny Toyota, brings the house down." - Nick Owchar, Los Angeles TimesNicola Barker was named as one of the 20 Best Young British Novelists by Granta in 2005. She has written numerous novels and collections of short stories. Her first novel Reversed Forecast (1990) was followed by Small Holdings (1995). Her third novel Wide Open (1998) won the IMPAC Prize. Clear was longlisted for the Booker Prize in 2004 and Darkmans in 2007, the 2008 Royal Society of Literature Ondaatje Award and won the Hawthornden Prize for 2008. Shortlisted for the 2007 Man Booker Prize, an epic novel of startling originality which confirms Nicola Barker as one of Britain's most exciting literary talents. If history is a sick joke which keeps on repeating, then who keeps on telling it? Could it be John Scogin, Edward IV's jester, whose favourite skit was to burn people alive? Or could it be Andrew Boarde, physician to Henry VIII, who wrote John Scogin's biography? Or could it be a Kurd called Gaffar whose days are blighted by an unspeakable terror of salad? Or a beautiful bulimic with brittle bones? Or a man who guards Beckley Woods with a Samurai sword and a pregnant terrier? Darkmans is a very modern book, set in ridiculously modern Ashford, about two old-fashioned subjects: love and jealousy. And the main character? The past, creeping up on the present and whispering something quite dark into its ear. Darkmans is the third of Nicola Barker's visionary Thames Gateway novels. Following Wide Open (winner Dublin IMPAC award 2000) and Behindlings it confirms one of Britain's most original literary talents. "Is it John Scogin, Edward IV's infamous court jester, who enjoyed burning people alive for a laugh? Or a salad-fearing tiny Kurd called Gaffar? Or a man who guards Beckley Woods with a Samurai sword and a pregnant terrier? A very modern book set in a ridiculously modern town, Nicola Barker's Darkmans is an epic novel of startling originality - a story of obsession, art, prescription drugs, and chiropody. And the main character is the past, creeping up on the present to whisper something quite dark - quite unspeakable - into its ear."--Jacket If history's just a sick joke, then who exactly is telling it and why? Could it be John Scogin, Edward IV's court jester, whose favourite pastime was to burn people alive? Or is it Andrew Boarde, Henry VIII's physician, who wrote Scogin's biography? This is a modern tale about two familiar subjects - love and jealousy