The First Bad Man cover art

The First Bad Man

 Preview

Get 30 days of Premium Plus free

£8.99/month after 30-day free trial. Cancel monthly.
Try for £0.00
More purchase options
Buy Now for £18.99

Buy Now for £18.99

About this listen

A Guardian literary highlight for 2015
A Huffington Post 'One to Watch' in 2015
An Amazon Rising Star 2015

"Astounding" (Lena Dunham, creator of Girls and author of Not That Kind of Girl)

"The First Bad Man brings together all of July's talents - it's a book that must be read, a book that must be purchased - in duplicate - one for you, one for a friend. Don't think you can loan this book - you'll never get it back" (A. M. Homes, author of This Book Will Save Your Life and May We Be Forgiven)

The first novel by the filmmaker, artist and bestselling author Miranda July confirms her as a spectacularly original, iconic, and important voice today, and a writer for all time. The First Bad Man is dazzling and unforgettable.

©2015 Miranda July (P)2015 Canongate Books Ltd Fiction Genre Fiction Literary Fiction Literature & Fiction Women's Fiction Funny Heartfelt Mind-bending Scary Witty Comedy

Critic reviews

"Astounding" (Lena Dunham, creator of Girls and author of Not That Kind of Girl)
"The First Bad Man brings together all of July's talents - it's a book that must be read, a book that must be purchased - in duplicate - one for you, one for a friend. Don't think you can loan this book - you'll never get it back" (A. M. Homes, author of This Book Will Save Your Life and May We Be Forgiven)
"The novel exploded my expectations and became unlike anything I've ever read...hilarious...A wry, smart companion on any day. It's warm, it has a heartbeat and a pulse. This is a book that is painfully alive." (The New York Times Book Review)
"Astounding...she will make you laugh, cringe and recognise yourself in a woman you never planned to be...Never has a novel spoken so deeply to my sexuality, my spirituality, my secret self. I know I am not alone." (Lena Dunham)
"I am in awe of Miranda July...The First Bad Man brings together all of July's talents - it's a book that must be read, a book that must be purchased - in duplicate - one for you, one for a friend. Don't think you can loan this book - you'll never get it back." (A.M. Homes, author of This Book Will Save Your Life and May Be Forgiven)
All stars
Most relevant
This is an incredible read/listen. To hear Miranda July performing the book herself is great, with all her iconic expressions and inflections.

The story itself edges just up to bizarre but still manages to feel grounded. The way the plot weaves and pulls together is masterful and I had a tear in my eye by the end. Maybe even did a little air punch for Cheryl!

I can't recommend it enough. It's up there, definitely one of my top ten.

A phenomenal book

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
It has moments of weirdness, but in the end it is touching and very human. I enjoyed it.

What it is to be alive

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
I loved this book, and everything else I've heard or read from Miranda July. Her characters are strange, troubled, deeply flawed, and endearing, and she reveals their inner worlds in very relatable way

Wonderfully weird and intimate

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Perfectly pitched, poignant, scary, strangely life affirming, at once beautiful and ugly; local and universal, wonderful rhythms and internal logic,deceptively clever. .. Won't be to everyone's taste but if you get the tone then it's hugely rewarding.

Fantastic!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
It's been such a long time since a book has truly surprised me and this is one of those. Not through plot but the story itself. The protagonist is complex and weird and lovable in a way I just didn't expect. I also love the imperfect nature of the characters. The story is free from cliche and covers modern love and family and womanhood. I love July's performance too. If you haven't already, you should read All Fours after this.

Absolute brilliant story telling

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
See more reviews