The Mermaid of Black Conch

Monique Roffey

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QTY:

English

Vintage
31 August 2021

Fiction & Literature; Modern & contemporary fiction (post c 1945); Myth & legend told as fiction; Adult & contemporary romance; Historical fiction

Escape to the ocean this summer with the Costa Book of the Year 2020

Escape to the ocean with the entrancing, unforgettable winner of the Costa Book of the Year - as read on BBC Radio 4.

'Mesmerising' MAGGIE O'FARRELL 'A unique talent' BERNARDINE EVARISTO 'Wonderful' BRIDGET COLLINS 'Brilliant' CLARE CHAMBERS

Near the island of Black Conch, a fisherman sings to himself while waiting for a catch. But David attracts a sea-dweller that he never expected - Aycayia, an innocent young woman cursed by jealous wives to live as a mermaid.

When American tourists capture Aycayia, David rescues her and vows to win her trust. Slowly, painfully, she transforms into a woman again. Yet as their love grows, they discover that the world around them is changing - and they cannot escape the curse for ever . . .

'A bittersweet love story . . . A joy to read' BBC News

'A fiercely modern mermaid story' The Times

'Wondrous . . . A striking achievement' Sunday Times

'Not your standard mermaid' MARGARET ATWOOD

'Exquisite' ELIZABETH MACNEAL

By: Monique Roffey
Imprint: Vintage
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions: Height: 198mm, Width: 129mm, Spine: 17mm
Weight: 191g
ISBN: 9781529115499
ISBN 10: 1529115493
Pages: 272
Publication Date: 31 August 2021
Audience: General/trade , ELT Advanced
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active

Monique Roffey was born in Port of Spain, Trinidad. She is the author of six novels and a memoir. The Mermaid of Black Conch won the Costa Book of the Year and the Costa Novel Award 2020, was shortlisted for the Rathbones Folio Prize 2021 and the Goldsmiths Prize 2020, and is longlisted for the OCM Bocas Prize for Caribbean Literature 2021. Her highly acclaimed previous books are sun dog, The White Woman on the Green Bicycle (shortlisted for the Orange Prize for Fiction 2010), Archipelago (winner of the OCM Bocas Award for Caribbean Literature 2013), House of Ashes (shortlisted for the Costa Novel Award 2014), The Tryst and With the Kisses of His Mouth. Monique Roffey is a Senior Lecturer at the Manchester Writing School at Manchester Metropolitan University and a tutor for the National Writers Centre.

Reviews for The Mermaid of Black Conch

A daring, mesmerising novel that continually unseats expectation - I was deliciously unsure, throughout, what would happen next. With her fierce and shapeshifting mermaid, Roffey has created a modern myth about belonging and the bonds humans form with each other and with their land, single-handedly bringing magic realism up to date -- Maggie O'Farrell, No.1 bestselling author of Hamnet Sensuous, beguiling . . . Roffey's tale convincingly transplants a mythical creature into a modern setting . . . Wondrous * Sunday Times * Wonderfully written, with both soul and intense drama - it glistens almost, like the mermaid! -- Diana Evans, author of Ordinary People Magical touches blend with precise realism in this bittersweet tale of a mermaid trying to put the sea behind her * Observer * Arresting . . . Truly original . . . deftly weaving myth, feminism, humour * Daily Mail * Extraordinary, beautifully written . . . We found it completely compelling . . . It feels like a classic in the making -- Costa Judges, 2020 Hugely entertaining . . . A joy to read, brimming with memorable characters * BBC News * The tantalising story of a mermaid loved and feared in equal measure . . . A book for our time -- Ingrid Persaud, author of Love After Love