Richard and Sophie are chaotic, drunken, frequently outrageous but also warm, generous and kind to Mirka, despite their argumentative and turbulent marriage. When Mirka gets a job in a country house in rural England, she has no idea of the struggle she faces to make sense of a very English couple, and a way of life that is entirely alien to her. But they could be anything, they could be completely crazy. Richard and Sophie sounded like good names for good people. I realised I knew nothing about these people. I had imagined arriving at the house so many times, but it was never like this. I opened my mouth to say something but she ran up the steps and into the house. Its command of tone, narrative and character is so assured, and both its wit and perceptiveness about a certain kind of English life make it a joy to read' Amanda CraigĮnglish Animals is a brilliantly assured debut that fans of Nina Stibbe's writing will love. It's a long time since I've enjoyed any debut novel as much as English Animals. Hyland, author of the Man Booker-shortlisted Carry Me Down Its command of tone, narrative and character is so assured, and both its wit and perceptiveness about a certain kind of English life make it a joy to read.'A beautiful and bold debut' M.J. 'It's a long time since I've enjoyed any debut novel as much as English Animals. ' confident novel that engages with love, belonging, prejudice and, above all, quintessential Englishness' 'Better than a burst of February sunshine, this is a pitch-perfect story. Kaye has a keen eye for social observation. Laura Kaye is a brilliant observer of human nature, with a wonderful eye for detail and a wry wit, who, in English Animals, perfectly balances poignancy and humour. But when she tells Sophie that she is gay, everything she has come to care about is put in danger, and she must learn the hard way what really matters to her.Įnglish Animals is a beautifully written, subversive, funny and highly distinctive debut.

After a traumatic break two years ago with her family in Slovakia, Mirka finds to her surprise that she is happy at Fairmont Hall. Richard swiftly co-opts Mirka into his latest money-making enterprise – opportunistic taxidermy – and she finds that she has a natural talent for creating some unusual artworks. Richard and Sophie are chaotic and frequently outrageous but also warm, generous and kind to Mirka despite their turbulent marriage. When Mirka gets a job in a country house in rural England, she has no idea of the struggle she faces to make sense of a very English couple and a way of life that is alien to her.

Publisher Little, Brown Publication date JanuEnglish Animals Author: Laura Kaye

English animals laura kaye