Doll

Young Ismail's world revolves around his mother, who is naive and fragile, but not without her own enigmas. She fears that her son will exchange her for a superior mother when he becomes a famous writer. This is a disarming story of home and creative ambition, of personal and political freedom, and is dedicated to the author's mother.

\n Format: Paperback / softback
\n Length: 176 pages
\n Publication date: 21 January 2021
\n Publisher: Vintage Publishing
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A captivating exploration of a complex love, John Burnside's Young Ismail revolves around his mother. Naïve and delicate, like a fragile paper doll, she stands as an unexpected figure in her husband's imposing abode, adorned with hidden chambers and a notorious dungeon. Despite her youthful essence, she harbors her own enigmatic complexities. Chief among them is her deep-seated fear that her intellectual and radical son will abandon her for a more accomplished mother once he achieves fame as a writer.

Drawing from the author's personal experiences growing up in Albania, Young Ismail is a poignant tale of home and artistic aspiration, of personal and political liberation. It serves as a tribute to the author's mother, whose memory permeates the narrative.

Crafted with a laconic, sinister, and wry humor, Burnside's writing captivates readers with its vivid portrayal of characters and intricate storytelling. The Spectator aptly describes the book as "a disarming story of home and creative ambition, of personal and political freedom."

\n Weight: 146g\n
Dimension: 128 x 196 x 17 (mm)\n
ISBN-13: 9781784709327\n \n