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

Lionel Shriver's first essay collection, "Abominations," is a brilliant collection of her most iconoclastic and personal works, including columns, features, essays, op-eds, speeches, and reviews. It showcases her piquant opinions on a wide range of topics, including religion, politics, illness, mortality, family and friends, tennis, gender, immigration, consumerism, health care, and taxes. The book is a testament to her fierce intelligence and her desire to challenge society's conformity of thought and attitude.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 304 pages
Publication date: 18 January 2024
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers

Lionel Shriver, a highly acclaimed writer of our time, has released her first essay collection, titled "Abominations." This trenchant and unrepentant collection serves as a reminder of her exceptional literary prowess. The Times has hailed it as the Book of the Year, praising Shriver's "brilliant writing." The Observer emphasizes her ability to spark disquiet and delve into the core of freedom of expression. The Times describes her as a "spiky, politically incorrect novelist" with a "fierce intelligence" that encourages readers to think more deeply, probe more critically, and challenge societal norms. The Sunday Times praises Shriver as one of the sharpest talents of our age, noting her ability to embrace "under-expressed, unpopular, or downright dangerous points of view."

Shriver's collection, spanning thirty-five works, includes columns, features, essays, op-eds, speeches, reviews, and unpublished pieces. It showcases her piquant opinions on a wide range of topics, including religion, politics, illness, mortality, family and friends, tennis, gender, immigration, consumerism, health care, and taxes.

Through her writing, Shriver relentlessly scrutinizes societal conventions, challenging the status quo and advocating for independent thought. She is known for her contrarian views and her ability to provoke thought and debate. At the same time, her essays exhibit a profound sense of vulnerability and emotional depth, revealing her personal experiences and insights.

"Abominations" is a testament to Shriver's fierce intelligence and her commitment to pushing boundaries. It invites readers to engage with her thought-provoking ideas and to explore new perspectives on contemporary issues. Whether one agrees with her views or not, this collection is a must-read for those who appreciate the power of words and the ability of literature to challenge and transform our understanding of the world.

Weight: 210g
Dimension: 128 x 199 x 21 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780008458652