Abominations: Selected Essays from a Career of Courting Self-Destruction

Lionel Shriver is a novelist, cultural observer, and social satirist known for her bold and controversial views. Her first essay collection, "Abominations," was a Times Book of the Year in the Literature category on 26.11.2022. The collection includes thirty-five works curated from her columns, features, essays, and op-eds, showcasing her piquant opinions on a wide range of topics, including religion, politics, illness, mortality, family, and friends.

Format: Hardback
Length: 304 pages
Publication date: 15 September 2022
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers

Lionel Shriver is a renowned novelist, cultural observer, and social satirist who has made a significant impact on the literary world. With her bold and thought-provoking writing, she has challenged the status quo and explored controversial topics that often go unnoticed. Her first essay collection, "Abominations," is a testament to her fierce intelligence and her desire to encourage readers to think more deeply and critically.

The collection includes thirty-five works curated from Shriver's many columns, features, essays, and op-eds for publications such as the Spectator and Guardian. It also includes speeches, reviews, and unpublished pieces, providing a comprehensive view of her writing career.

Shriver's essays are known for their sharp wit, political acumen, and ability to make complex issues accessible to a wide audience. She is a fierce critic of conformity and the pressures of societal norms, and her writing often reflects her own experiences and observations.

In "Abominations," Shriver tackles a wide range of topics, including religion, politics, illness, mortality, family and friends, tennis, gender, immigration, consumerism, health care, and taxes. She is relentlessly sceptical, cutting, and contrarian, but she also displays a deep sense of empathy and vulnerability.

One of the most striking features of "Abominations" is Shriver's ability to blend humor with her writing. She has a wicked sense of humor, and her essays are often filled with witty observations and clever turns of phrase. This makes her writing both entertaining and thought-provoking, as it challenges readers to think outside the box and consider different perspectives.

Despite the controversy that often surrounds Shriver's writing, her talent as a writer is undeniable. "Abominations" has received critical acclaim, with many reviewers praising her ability to make complex issues accessible and her bold and fearless approach to writing.

In conclusion, "Abominations" is a must-read for anyone who appreciates bold and thought-provoking writing. Lionel Shriver's ability to blend humor with her writing makes her a unique and compelling voice in the literary world, and her essays will challenge and inspire readers for years to come.

Weight: 416g
Dimension: 146 x 223 x 32 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780008458614