Human, Animal

A BBC Radio 2 Book Club Pick

Seth Insua

$40.95 $34.42

Paperback

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English

Verve Books
01 March 2025

Modern & contemporary fiction (post c 1945); Fiction: special features

Since the death of his brother, dairy farmer George Calvert has fought to keep the family business afloat. Worried about the future but resistant to change, he refuses to face the reality of his failing farm, his elderly mother's declining health and his troubled relationship with his youngest son, Tom.

Newly returned from university, Tom isolates himself in his childhood bedroom, guarding the truth of his burgeoning identity.

When animal rights activists break into the cowshed one morning, Tom appears to side with the protesters. As the Calverts begin to unravel, a decades-old secret surfaces

one that might rip them apart completely, or finally unite them.

A deeply moving debut about one family's struggle to find connection in a rapidly changing world, Human, Animal is an ode to the wild, a journey of self-discovery and a hopeful path to common ground.

'Beautifully, skilfully told with real tension and gorgeous characters, Human, Animal moved me to tears. Insua writes with so much kindness, empathy and wisdom...

Remarkable.'

Russell T Davies

'Insua probes the spaces between black-and-white-thinking with immeasurable sensitivity...

Human, Animal explores the anxious convergence of the past, present and future with staggering clarity. A truly impressive debut.'

Joshua Jones, author of Local Fires

'A rich and compelling debut from a writer with a striking talent for weaving together complex narrative strands in order to create a sophisticated, symphonic whole. Insua is one to watch.'

Barney Norris, author of The Vanishing Hours

'A searingly powerful novel, Human, Animal grapples with questions of identity, change and family, delivering a nuanced and moving story about the desire for connection and acceptance.'

Lucy Ashe, author of Clara & Olivia

'A beautiful, clever debut...

Insua balances polarised worlds

the young and old, the urban and rural, the expected and forbidden

to create a novel so full of generosity and insight.'

Abigail Dean, author of Girl A

'Blisteringly emotional, exploring the complex folds of family bonds. The last page left me haunted. Completely unmissable.'

Lucy Rose, author of The Lamb

'Compelling, conflicting and heartbreaking, Human, Animal had my heart pounding in my throat until I'd devoured every last page. A bold and unforgettable novel.'

Awais Khan, author of No Honour

By: Seth Insua
Imprint: Verve Books
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions: Height: 198mm, Width: 129mm,
ISBN: 9780857308894
ISBN 10: 0857308890
Pages: 320
Publication Date: 01 March 2025
Audience: General/trade , ELT Advanced
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active

Seth Insua is an Anglo-Spanish writer and artist. He was born in Kent in 1989. He graduated from the University of Oxford with a First in English Language and Literature. He has been shortlisted for the Bridport Prize and The London Magazine's Short Story Competition and was a semi-finalist in the BlueCat Screenplay Competition. He currently lives with his husband, David, between Newcastle upon Tyne and Madrid. Human, Animal is his first novel.

Reviews for Human, Animal: A BBC Radio 2 Book Club Pick

Impressive... The characterisation is so adept... [and] never fails to convince * Financial Times * Beautifully, skilfully told with real tension and gorgeous characters, Human, Animal moved me to tears. Seth Insua writes with so much kindness, empathy and wisdom; everyone is understood and forgiven and revealed. The narrative sneaks up in tiny moments packed with emotion that never become overwrought. Taut, precise, witty, insightful, it barrelled me along. Remarkable, inspirational writing -- Russell T Davies Human, Animal is a formidable saga of British farming - spinning a moving tale of belonging, family, and land that brings country life into fierce reckoning with the modern world. As vital and sweeping as the countryside it enfolds us in -- Scott Preston, author of The Borrowed Hills Human, Animal is a masterclass in empathy, perfect for our divided present (and past) times. Astutely emotional and lyrical while never being overwrought, Insua's quietly gorgeous prose delivers huge, profound moments about what it means to belong, care for, inherit and live amongst humans and animals. It is a beautiful addition to the family saga and rural queer canons - and don't we need more of those! I love this book! -- Henry Fry, author of First Time For Everything A beautiful, clever debut, written with such tenderness for its muddled, struggling cast. Seth Insua balances polarised worlds - the young and old, the urban and rural, the expected and forbidden - to create a novel so full of generosity and insight -- Abigail Dean, author of Girl A and Day One