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The Glutton

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( 6,336 ratings, 1,361 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
The Glutton by A. K. Blakemore is a thought-provoking novel that delves into the life of a unique character driven by insatiable desires. Set in a richly detailed world, the story explores themes of appetite, excess, and the nature of human longing. Through vivid prose, the novel offers a compelling exploration of what it means to want more than one can have, weaving together both personal and universal struggles.
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

This book may appeal to you if you're drawn to vivid prose and historical settings, combined with a unique perspective on human desires and moral complexities. It offers an engaging narrative that balances dark humour with a poignant exploration of excess and appetites, making it a compelling choice for readers who enjoy richly detailed stories.

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One man with an insatiable hunger: a novel of desire and destruction in Revolutionary France, based on a true story, from the Desmond Elliott Prize-winning author of The Manningtree Witches.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

Sister Perpetue is not to move. She is not to fall asleep. She is to sit, keeping guard over the patient’s room. She has heard the stories of his hunger, which defy belief: that he has eaten all manner of creatures and objects. A child even, if the rumours are to be believed. But it is hard to believe that this slender, frail man is the one they once called The Great Tarare, The Glutton of Lyon.

Before, he was just Tarare. Well-meaning and hopelessly curious, born into a world of brawling and sweet cider, to a bereaved mother and a life of slender means. The 18th Century is drawing to a close, unrest grips the heart of France and life in the village is soon shaken. When a sudden act of violence sees Tarare cast out and left for dead, his ferocious appetite is ignited, and it’s not long before his extraordinary abilities to eat make him a marvel throughout the land.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

The Glutton by A. K. Blakemore has been widely praised for its rich and vivid prose that tackles themes of desire, love, and class. The novel is commended for its audacious and compassionate exploration of its characters and historical setting, leaving a lasting impact on readers. Critics have highlighted its baroque writing style, its balance between the beauty and brutality of its narrative, and have likened it to classic works, appreciating its vivid imagery and insightful commentary on human nature.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781803510361

Publisher: Granta Publications Ltd

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 21 September 2023

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Granta Publications Ltd

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Width: 135.0mm

Height: 216.0mm

Weight: 291g

Pages: 336

About the Author

A. K. Blakemore's debut novel, The Manningtree Witches, won the Desmond Elliott Prize 2021, was shortlisted for the Costa First Novel Award, and was a Waterstones Book of the Month. She is the author of two full-length collections of poetry, Humbert Summer and Fondue, which was awarded the 2019 Ledbury Forte Prize for Best Second Collection, and has also translated the work of Sichuanese poet Yu Yoyo. Her poetry and prose has appeared in the London Review of Books, Poetry, the Poetry Review and the White Review, among other publications.

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