Overview

Who attacked Dad? When corrupt, brutal dentist Albert Ludd is found battered and bloody after failing to attend a memorial party for his youngest son, a solider, suspicion falls on his other children, especially 37-year-old buxom bruiser Monica, who was heard uttering threats against her absent father. How come her car is found outside his house? Why did she buy a large axe? Yet, Monica's a deputy head. Blood is a Gothic black comedy seen through the eyes of six-foot Monica, who speaks her secret thoughts aloud and who has been banned by the principal of her school, from using social media: Parents are sensitive to abuse. Governors query `moron' and `twat'. Blood asks serious questions about modern life: what can we do with the brutal men who bully women and the weak? Can we wait for a world of order and justice? If we hit back, can the circle of violence ever be broken?

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9781909572126

Table of Contents

Reviews

An astonishing book. Funny and fierce, written with style and dash, without fear. --Hilary Mantel A marvel, nothing less. Blood, so wonderfully, startlingly unlike any novel I have ever read that I m a bit stunned into unaccustomed wordlessness. Such a voice, such a memorable creation. Monica is one of the great characters of fiction. An extraordinary feat. --Lyndall Gordon Praise for Maggie Gee's writing A wise and beautiful book about what it feels like to be alive. Zadie Smith on My Animal Life Hang on to your hats, [Virginia Woolf in Manhattan] is a joy Jane Gardam, author of Old Filth I love the work of Maggie Gee: wickedly smart, funny and fearless, plus that rarest of all things, genuinely surprising. Read her. Patrick Ness Worldly, witty, enjoyable, impressive. Doris Lessing Maggie Gee has never written better. Rose Tremain Excellent ... Exciting stuff. Fay Weldon A tour de force - brilliantly structured, surprising, humane, and suspenseful. Elaine Showalter Brilliant ... just brilliant ... deserves to be published in every language. Hillary Jordan Gripping, original and highly entertaining - Maggie Gee at her superb best. J G Ballard So rich it is almost aromatic ... an impressive and important novel. Nigella Lawson Outstanding ... tender, sexy and alarming. Jim Crace Audacious, playful and dazzlingly written. The Herald Wickedly funny ... contains lines that sparkle. Sunday Telegraph This giddily playful novel is cunning what if ... A gloriously funny, fleet-footed novel. Metro Best Summer Reads A witty book ... It's got everything in a novel that I really like. Jacqueline Wilson's Six Best Books, Express Dazzling ... alternately lyrical and austere ... unbearably touching. The Observer For all its passion and intricacy, is also a very funny book . . . rewarding . . . carefully written, using language echoing the water that ebbs and flows, and eventually floods the pages. TLS Sublimely funny and infinitely subtle, pure delight. Daily Telegraph Energetic and beguiling. Sunday Telegraph Up there with Orwell and Huxley. Jeremy Paxman BBC Maggie Gee is one of our most ambitious novelists. Sunday Times Excellent ... Exciting stuff. Fay Weldon A tour de force - brilliantly structured, surprising, humane, and suspenseful Elaine Showalter Brilliant ... just brilliant ... deserves to be published in every language. Hillary Jordan Gripping, original and highly entertaining - Maggie Gee at her superb best. J G Ballard So rich it is almost aromatic ... an impressive and important novel. Nigella Lawson Outstanding ... tender, sexy and alarming. Jim Crace Audacious, playful and dazzlingly written. The Herald For all its passion and intricacy, is also a very funny book . . . rewarding . . . carefully written, using language echoing the water that ebbs and flows, and eventually floods the pages. TLS Sublimely funny and infinitely subtle, pure delight. Daily Telegraph Energetic and beguiling. Sunday Telegraph A fantastic book. Mariella Frostrup BBC She writes elegantly, unsentimentally, expertly. The Independent This beautifully observed, intelligent and moving novel is one of those rare things - a small, carefully wrapped surprise that gets better and better with the unravelling.' The Scotsman A moving, funny, engrossing book. The Observer A rattling good page-turning yarn. George Melly Mordantly witty, unsparing, politically savvy, a beautifully clear and bracing vision. TLS One of the year's finest novels. Literary Review Compulsively readable. The Guardian Astonishing ... beautifully written. Big Issue A transcendent work. Daily Telegraph Intensely touching. Financial Times This beautifully observed, intelligent and moving novel is one of those rare things - a small, carefully wrapped surprise that gets better and better with the unravelling. The Scotsman Maggie Gee is superb. Elegant, humorous and surprising, this is a classy performance. The Times A moving, funny, engrossing book. The Observer A remarkable and ambitious book, a tribute to Maggie Gee's imaginative power. Literary Review The most exhilarating novel I've read all year. Scotland on Sunday Maggie Gee's immense talent catches passion on the wing ... a romance of a truth and depth that's never without humour. Mail on Sunday

An astonishing book. Funny and fierce, written with style and dash, without fear. --Hilary Mantel An awesome literary achievement: you laugh, you cry, most of all you think. Gloriously rich and readable. -- Fay Weldon A marvel, nothing less. Blood, so wonderfully, startlingly unlike any novel I have ever read that I m a bit stunned into unaccustomed wordlessness. Such a voice, such a memorable creation. Monica is one of the great characters of fiction. An extraordinary feat. --Lyndall Gordon Maggie Gee's latest blackly comic creation is an unforgettable character. Gee cleverly blends nimble, sometimes slapstick humour with an affecting commentary on the corrosive legacy of violence, both verbal and physical. The Times [Blood] lives through Monica's remarkable voice. There's a lot of enjoyment to be had from this extravagant novel. Allan Massie, The Scotsman Gee's gripping new novel is a macabre comedy-thriller is interwoven with references to a Brexit-broken Britain and laugh-out-loud passages. The Sunday Times An intriguing meditation on vengeance versus forgiveness - a hilarious whodunnit and political satire Guardian An astonishing book: a Gothic black comedy set in an angry, anarchic, Brexit Britain, which is like no other novel I have ever read. I laughed a lot but hope readers will be jolted into thinking hard and carefully about today's Britain -- just as [Gee] has spent the last five years living in a literary world fuelled by rage and terrorism. Jackie McGlone, Herald A festive, anarchic spirit presides. The narrative is lovely in its picture of emotions. The Ludds are the family from hell, but they're also Everyfamily, where love and bits of hate have to fight it out. Literary Review Deliciously dark. Blood is exquisitely written with a melodic ear for language. Redemption, when it finally comes, is all the sweeter for the darkness that precedes it. WI Magazine Praise for Maggie Gee's writing A wise and beautiful book about what it feels like to be alive. Zadie Smith on My Animal Life Hang on to your hats, [Virginia Woolf in Manhattan] is a joy Jane Gardam, author of Old Filth I love the work of Maggie Gee: wickedly smart, funny and fearless, plus that rarest of all things, genuinely surprising. Read her. Patrick Ness Worldly, witty, enjoyable, impressive. Doris Lessing Maggie Gee has never written better. Rose Tremain Excellent ... Exciting stuff. Fay Weldon A tour de force - brilliantly structured, surprising, humane, and suspenseful. Elaine Showalter Brilliant ... just brilliant ... deserves to be published in every language. Hillary Jordan Gripping, original and highly entertaining - Maggie Gee at her superb best. J G Ballard So rich it is almost aromatic ... an impressive and important novel. Nigella Lawson Outstanding ... tender, sexy and alarming. Jim Crace Audacious, playful and dazzlingly written. The Herald Wickedly funny ... contains lines that sparkle. Sunday Telegraph This giddily playful novel is cunning what if ... A gloriously funny, fleet-footed novel. Metro Best Summer Reads A witty book ... It's got everything in a novel that I really like. Jacqueline Wilson's Six Best Books, Express Dazzling ... alternately lyrical and austere ... unbearably touching. The Observer For all its passion and intricacy, is also a very funny book . . . rewarding . . . carefully written, using language echoing the water that ebbs and flows, and eventually floods the pages. TLS Sublimely funny and infinitely subtle, pure delight. Daily Telegraph Energetic and beguiling. Sunday Telegraph Up there with Orwell and Huxley. Jeremy Paxman BBC Maggie Gee is one of our most ambitious novelists. Sunday Times Excellent ... Exciting stuff. Fay Weldon A tour de force - brilliantly structured, surprising, humane, and suspenseful Elaine Showalter Brilliant ... just brilliant ... deserves to be published in every language. Hillary Jordan Gripping, original and highly entertaining - Maggie Gee at her superb best. J G Ballard So rich it is almost aromatic ... an impressive and important novel. Nigella Lawson Outstanding ... tender, sexy and alarming. Jim Crace Audacious, playful and dazzlingly written. The Herald For all its passion and intricacy, is also a very funny book . . . rewarding . . . carefully written, using language echoing the water that ebbs and flows, and eventually floods the pages. TLS Sublimely funny and infinitely subtle, pure delight. Daily Telegraph Energetic and beguiling. Sunday Telegraph A fantastic book. Mariella Frostrup BBC She writes elegantly, unsentimentally, expertly. The Independent This beautifully observed, intelligent and moving novel is one of those rare things - a small, carefully wrapped surprise that gets better and better with the unravelling.' The Scotsman A moving, funny, engrossing book. The Observer A rattling good page-turning yarn. George Melly Mordantly witty, unsparing, politically savvy, a beautifully clear and bracing vision. TLS One of the year's finest novels. Literary Review Compulsively readable. The Guardian Astonishing ... beautifully written. Big Issue A transcendent work. Daily Telegraph Intensely touching. Financial Times This beautifully observed, intelligent and moving novel is one of those rare things - a small, carefully wrapped surprise that gets better and better with the unravelling. The Scotsman Maggie Gee is superb. Elegant, humorous and surprising, this is a classy performance. The Times A moving, funny, engrossing book. The Observer A remarkable and ambitious book, a tribute to Maggie Gee's imaginative power. Literary Review The most exhilarating novel I've read all year. Scotland on Sunday Maggie Gee's immense talent catches passion on the wing ... a romance of a truth and depth that's never without humour. Mail on Sunday

An astonishing book. Funny and fierce, written with style and dash, without fear. --Hilary Mantel A marvel, nothing less. Blood, so wonderfully, startlingly unlike any novel I have ever read that I m a bit stunned into unaccustomed wordlessness. Such a voice, such a memorable creation. Monica is one of the great characters of fiction. An extraordinary feat. --Lyndall Gordon An intriguing meditation on vengeance versus forgiveness - a hilarious whodunnit and political satire Guardian An astonishing book: a Gothic black comedy set in an angry, anarchic, Brexit Britain, which is like no other novel I have ever read. I laughed a lot but hope readers will be jolted into thinking hard and carefully about today's Britain -- just as [Gee] has spent the last five years living in a literary world fuelled by rage and terrorism. Jackie McGlone, Herald Praise for Maggie Gee's writing A wise and beautiful book about what it feels like to be alive. Zadie Smith on My Animal Life Hang on to your hats, [Virginia Woolf in Manhattan] is a joy Jane Gardam, author of Old Filth I love the work of Maggie Gee: wickedly smart, funny and fearless, plus that rarest of all things, genuinely surprising. Read her. Patrick Ness Worldly, witty, enjoyable, impressive. Doris Lessing Maggie Gee has never written better. Rose Tremain Excellent ... Exciting stuff. Fay Weldon A tour de force - brilliantly structured, surprising, humane, and suspenseful. Elaine Showalter Brilliant ... just brilliant ... deserves to be published in every language. Hillary Jordan Gripping, original and highly entertaining - Maggie Gee at her superb best. J G Ballard So rich it is almost aromatic ... an impressive and important novel. Nigella Lawson Outstanding ... tender, sexy and alarming. Jim Crace Audacious, playful and dazzlingly written. The Herald Wickedly funny ... contains lines that sparkle. Sunday Telegraph This giddily playful novel is cunning what if ... A gloriously funny, fleet-footed novel. Metro Best Summer Reads A witty book ... It's got everything in a novel that I really like. Jacqueline Wilson's Six Best Books, Express Dazzling ... alternately lyrical and austere ... unbearably touching. The Observer For all its passion and intricacy, is also a very funny book . . . rewarding . . . carefully written, using language echoing the water that ebbs and flows, and eventually floods the pages. TLS Sublimely funny and infinitely subtle, pure delight. Daily Telegraph Energetic and beguiling. Sunday Telegraph Up there with Orwell and Huxley. Jeremy Paxman BBC Maggie Gee is one of our most ambitious novelists. Sunday Times Excellent ... Exciting stuff. Fay Weldon A tour de force - brilliantly structured, surprising, humane, and suspenseful Elaine Showalter Brilliant ... just brilliant ... deserves to be published in every language. Hillary Jordan Gripping, original and highly entertaining - Maggie Gee at her superb best. J G Ballard So rich it is almost aromatic ... an impressive and important novel. Nigella Lawson Outstanding ... tender, sexy and alarming. Jim Crace Audacious, playful and dazzlingly written. The Herald For all its passion and intricacy, is also a very funny book . . . rewarding . . . carefully written, using language echoing the water that ebbs and flows, and eventually floods the pages. TLS Sublimely funny and infinitely subtle, pure delight. Daily Telegraph Energetic and beguiling. Sunday Telegraph A fantastic book. Mariella Frostrup BBC She writes elegantly, unsentimentally, expertly. The Independent This beautifully observed, intelligent and moving novel is one of those rare things - a small, carefully wrapped surprise that gets better and better with the unravelling.' The Scotsman A moving, funny, engrossing book. The Observer A rattling good page-turning yarn. George Melly Mordantly witty, unsparing, politically savvy, a beautifully clear and bracing vision. TLS One of the year's finest novels. Literary Review Compulsively readable. The Guardian Astonishing ... beautifully written. Big Issue A transcendent work. Daily Telegraph Intensely touching. Financial Times This beautifully observed, intelligent and moving novel is one of those rare things - a small, carefully wrapped surprise that gets better and better with the unravelling. The Scotsman Maggie Gee is superb. Elegant, humorous and surprising, this is a classy performance. The Times A moving, funny, engrossing book. The Observer A remarkable and ambitious book, a tribute to Maggie Gee's imaginative power. Literary Review The most exhilarating novel I've read all year. Scotland on Sunday Maggie Gee's immense talent catches passion on the wing ... a romance of a truth and depth that's never without humour. Mail on Sunday

Hang on to your hats, it's a joy Jane Gardam A wise and beautiful book about what it feels like to be alive. Zadie Smith Fast-moving, energetic, constantly surprising Hilary Mantel I love the work of Maggie Gee: wickedly smart, funny and fearless, plus that rarest of all things, genuinely surprising. Read her. Patrick Ness Worldly, witty, enjoyable, impressive.' Doris Lessing Maggie Gee has never written better. Rose Tremain Excellent ... Exciting stuff. Fay Weldon A tour de force - brilliantly structured, surprising, humane, and suspenseful Elaine Showalter Brilliant ... just brilliant ... deserves to be published in every language. Hillary Jordan Gripping, original and highly entertaining - Maggie Gee at her superb best. J G Ballard So rich it is almost aromatic ... an impressive and important novel. Nigella Lawson Outstanding ... tender, sexy and alarming. Jim Crace Audacious, playful and dazzlingly written. The Herald Wickedly funny ... contains lines that sparkle. Sunday Telegraph This giddily playful novel is cunning what if ... A gloriously funny, fleet-footed novel. Metro Best Summer Reads) A witty book ... It's got everything in a novel that I really like. Jacqueline Wilson's Six Best Books, Express Dazzling ... alternately lyrical and austere ... unbearably touching. The Observer For all its passion and intricacy, is also a very funny book . . . rewarding . . . carefully written, using language echoing the water that ebbs and flows, and eventually floods the pages. TLS Sublimely funny and infinitely subtle, pure delight. Daily Telegraph Energetic and beguiling. Sunday Telegraph Up there with Orwell and Huxley. Jeremy Paxman BB Maggie Gee is one of our most ambitious and challenging novelists. Sunday Times Hang on to your hats, it's a joy Jane Gardam A wise and beautiful book about what it feels like to be alive. Zadie Smith Fast-moving, energetic, constantly surprising Hilary Mantel I love the work of Maggie Gee: wickedly smart, funny and fearless, plus that rarest of all things, genuinely surprising. Read her. Patrick Ness Worldly, witty, enjoyable, impressive.' Doris Lessing Maggie Gee has never written better. Rose Tremain Excellent ... Exciting stuff. Fay Weldon A tour de force - brilliantly structured, surprising, humane, and suspenseful Elaine Showalter Brilliant ... just brilliant ... deserves to be published in every language. Hillary Jordan Gripping, original and highly entertaining - Maggie Gee at her superb best. J G Ballard So rich it is almost aromatic ... an impressive and important novel. Nigella Lawson Outstanding ... tender, sexy and alarming. Jim Crace Audacious, playful and dazzlingly written. The Herald Wickedly funny ... contains lines that sparkle. Sunday Telegraph This giddily playful novel is cunning what if ... A gloriously funny, fleet-footed novel. Metro Best Summer Reads) A witty book ... It's got everything in a novel that I really like. Jacqueline Wilson's Six Best Books, Express Dazzling ... alternately lyrical and austere ... unbearably touching. The Observer For all its passion and intricacy, is also a very funny book . . . rewarding . . . carefully written, using language echoing the water that ebbs and flows, and eventually floods the pages. TLS Sublimely funny and infinitely subtle, pure delight. Daily Telegraph Energetic and beguiling. Sunday Telegraph Up there with Orwell and Huxley. Jeremy Paxman BB Maggie Gee is one of our most ambitious and challenging novelists. Sunday Times A fantastic book. Mariella Frostrup BBC She writes elegantly, unsentimentally, expertly. The Independent This beautifully observed, intelligent and moving novel is one of those rare things - a small, carefully wrapped surprise that gets better and better with the unravelling.' The Scotsman A moving, funny, engrossing book. The Observer A rattling good page-turning yarn. George Melly Mordantly witty, unsparing, politically savvy, a beautifully clear and bracing vision. TLS One of the year's finest novels. Literary Review Compulsively readable. The Guardian Astonishing ... beautifully written. Big Issue A transcendent work. Daily Telegraph Intensely touching. Financial Times This beautifully observed, intelligent and moving novel is one of those rare things - a small, carefully wrapped surprise that gets better and better with the unravelling. The Scotsman Maggie Gee is superb. Elegant, humorous and surprising, this is a classy performance. The Times A moving, funny, engrossing book. The Observer A remarkable and ambitious book, a tribute to Maggie Gee's imaginative power. Literary Review The most exhilarating novel I've read all year. Scotland on Sunday Maggie Gee's immense talent catches passion on the wing ... a romance of a truth and depth that's never without humour. Mail on Sunday

Author Information

Maggie Gee (Virginia Woolf in Manhattan, 2019) has published fifteen books to great acclaim, and her work has been translated into fourteen languages. One of Granta's original 'Best Young British Novelists' (1983, with William Boyd, Kazuo Ishiguro, Julian Barnes), she has been shortlisted for major prizes including the Orange (now the Women's) Prize, the IMPAC and been a Booker Prize judge. The first professional writer in her family and from the first generation to go to university (Academic Scholar, Somerville College, University of Oxford), she was the first female Chair of the UK Royal Society of Literature, and is now one of its Vice-Presidents. Gee works as a Professor of Creative Writing at Bath Spa University, writes novels and journalism, and is a Director of the Authors' Licensing and Collecting Society. The Queen awarded her an OBE for Services to Literature in 2012.

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