A Language of Limbs

A Language of Limbs by Dylin Hardcastle is a deeply moving and evocative exploration of love, friendship, and identity. The novel begins on a quiet summer night in Newcastle, 1972, where a teenage girl faces a life-altering decision: should she act on her burgeoning feelings for her best friend, or suppress them in fear of societal repercussions? This is no ordinary first love; it holds the explosive potential to dismantle a family, a friendship, and a life.

Spanning three decades, the narrative intricately weaves between pivotal moments in the lives of these two young women. As their paths almost cross numerous times, the reader is taken on a journey through the seismic shifts of the late 20th century, witnessing the historic first Mardi Gras, the harrowing AIDS pandemic, and the slow, painful progress toward acceptance and equality. Each significant cultural touchstone serves as a backdrop to the personal stories of the protagonists, whose lives are filled with moments of joy, grief, loss, and desire.

A Language of Limbs is more than a story about the societal challenges of living an openly queer life; it is a celebration of the resilience and vibrancy of queer existence. With poetry and grace, Hardcastle explores how love can be both policed and transcendent, how friendship defies boundaries, and how humour can be found even in the depths of heartbreak. At its core, this novel demands that we claim our futures and embrace the humanity within us all.

Praise for A Language of Limbs:

‘A life-affirming, deeply felt novel of the decisions we make and the lives that unspool from them. To read A Language of Limbs is to be reminded of the power of queer joy and community. I loved it.’ — Hannah Kent

‘Poetic, fresh and mesmerising, Hardcastle's work is like nothing I have ever read. A Language of Limbs is full of feeling; a love story about the family we make ourselves. Upon finishing this book I was overwhelmed by a sense of, more. I am desperate for more stories like this.’ — Jessie Stephens

‘Dylin Hardcastle's novel carried me away like a tidal current. Expansive across time, yet intimate in its focus, A Language of Limbs is that rare book that's equally poetic and propulsive — with twin protagonists who are impossible to shake. Nothing short of an instant queer classic.’ — Benjamin Law