Harrow

In her first novel since The Quick and the Dead, author Annie Williams takes us into an uncertain landscape after an environmental apocalypse. The novel follows Khristen, a teenager who was marked for greatness as a baby, as she ranges across the dead landscape and finds a resort on the shores of a mysterious, putrid lake. The elderly residents there plot actions to punish corporations and people they consider culpable in the destruction of nature's beauty. Harrow is a tale of paradise lost and the reasons to try and recover something of it.

Format: Hardback
Length: 224 pages
Publication date: 06 January 2022
Publisher: Profile Books Ltd

In her highly anticipated novel since The Quick and the Dead, a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize, the legendary writer transports us to a post-apocalyptic world where only man-made creations hold value, yet some still yearn to preserve the authentic. As the book reached its conclusion, a sense of longing washed over me for the dreadful, cleansing darkness that had engulfed me throughout its pages.

This apocalyptic vision is brought to life by a committee of extraordinary talents, including Dalí, Kafka, and Yorgos Lanthimos. The Observer has hailed it as the apocalypse reimagined, while the Kirkus Prize for Fiction has recognized it as a winner. It has also been shortlisted for the prestigious LA Times Prize and the PEN/ Jean Stein Book Award, as well as the Bollinger Everyman Wodehouse Prize for Comic Fiction.

At the heart of the story is Khristen, a teenager believed to have been destined for greatness since her birth when she briefly passed away and miraculously returned to life. After her boarding school for gifted teens closes its doors, Khristen sets out on a journey across the desolate landscape, seeking solace in a resort located on the shores of a mysterious, putrid lake known as Big Girl. Within the decaying honeycomb of rooms, the elderly residents plot intricate actions to hold corporations and individuals accountable for the destruction of nature's precious beauty.

Harrow is a captivating tale that delves into the concept of paradise lost and the relentless pursuit of recovering fragments of it. With her searing, deadpan wit, Williams paints a vivid and unsettling portrait of a world where the line between humanity and inhumanity becomes blurred. The novel is a testament to the power of storytelling and the resilience of the human spirit in the face of adversity.

As I closed the book, I couldn't help but reflect on the profound implications of this thought-provoking narrative. It serves as a cautionary tale, reminding us of the fragile balance between our actions and the environment we inhabit. It prompts us to question our values and priorities, and to strive for a world where nature and humanity can coexist in harmony.

In conclusion, Harrow is a masterpiece of literary fiction that offers a unique and thought-provoking perspective on the apocalypse. It is a must-read for anyone who appreciates the power of storytelling and the importance of preserving our planet for future generations.

Weight: 384g
Dimension: 223 x 145 x 28 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781800810013
Edition number: Main