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Elmet cover art

Elmet

By: Fiona Mozley
Narrated by: Gareth Bennett-Ryan
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Summary

Shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize 2017

An atmospheric and thrilling debut set in Yorkshire - perfect for fans of The Loney and The Essex Serpent. Fresh and distinctive writing from an exciting new voice in fiction, Elmet is an unforgettable novel about family as well as a beautiful meditation on landscape.

Daniel is heading north. He is looking for someone. The simplicity of his early life with Daddy and Cathy has turned sour and fearful. They lived apart in the house that Daddy built for them with his bare hands. They foraged and hunted. When they were younger, Daniel and Cathy had gone to school. But they were not like the other children then, and they were even less like them now.

Sometimes Daddy disappeared and would return with a rage in his eyes. But when he was at home, he was at peace. He told them that the little copse in Elmet was theirs alone. But that wasn't true. Local men, greedy and watchful, began to circle like vultures. All the while, the terrible violence in Daddy grew.

Atmospheric and unsettling, Elmet is a lyrical commentary on contemporary society and one family's precarious place in it as well as an exploration of how deep the bond between father and child can go.

©2017 Fiona Mozley (P)2017 John Murray Press

Critic reviews

"Ms Mozley writes with clarity and insight, and her descriptions of the natural world and human relationships are both specific and profound... Elmet is a quiet explosion of a book, exquisite and unforgettable. It is hard not to feel that at 29, Ms Mozley has only just begun." ( The Economist)

What listeners say about Elmet

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

A Powerful Story of Outsiders& Family Love/Loyalty

This is a satisfying novel and one which I listened to in three marathon sessions. It is, on the face of it, a simple narrative concerning a family which lives on the edge of society, clinging to each other and living a simple life.

But they are surrounded by outside pressures, mysteries from the past, simmering violence from within and without the family and a local landowner who threatens their existence in the home they built on his land, without permission.

The ending is heartbreaking and thought-provoking and I was left wanting to know more. Great writing, with believable characters and an absorbing, interesting plot.

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9 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

A strong debut novel.

This new writer displays a vivid pictorial ability that is poetic in places.The book is sometimes overwritten but overall it works wonderfully well. There is a powerful and violent conclusion to the book that lingers in the mind for some time.

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7 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Astonishingly good

Beautifully written. Very well read. Can't wait to see what this new writer produces next.

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2 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Brilliant!

This book is incredible. It has gone straight to my top 5 of thousands of books read over 60 years. I cried when it ended because I didn't want to leave the characters I had become so invested in. It should have won the Man Booker prize! The narrator was exceptional too. It is dark and cruel yet wonderfully compassionate and uplifting all at the same time. Read it!

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1 person found this helpful

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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Uncomplicated, Natural, Good versus Evil

The opening was not promising, but with the growing characters my eagerness to hear more and more increased. in the end, I ran the car home on a circuitous route to listen all the way to the end.

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1 person found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Excellent

Excellent book, really enjoyed it. Beautiful language and a great story with some unexpected twists. The narrator also did an incredible job.

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Beautifully written and performed

A beautifully written book, covering a sorely under-reported area of British life.

The characterisation never quite pulled me in 100% and the ending felt slightly flat, but it's still a hugely enjoyable listen.

Gareth Bennett-Ryan is brilliant, a top 5 performer.

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Shockingly good!

Beautifully written, wonderfully paced - a modern western set in the north of the UK - fabulous! How it did not win the Booker I do not know

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excellent

beautifully written and gripping story. the narration was also excellent. I would recommend to anyone

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    2 out of 5 stars
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Too much (slightly boring) detail

I tried to listen to this book, because it was a Booker finalist, but never really engaged. It was supposed to be atmospheric, but I found the minute details of people putting on clothes and carrying out chores to be boring. Detailed description just isn't my thing

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1 person found this helpful