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As If

Brief Description
Trailblazing author Isabel Waidner returns with an existential cat-and-mouse story of grief, loss, ambition, and the possibility of making oneself anew. Two men meet in a flat in London. They are total strangers and yet they look remarkably alike. Lewis is grieving his dead wife; Korine... Read More
Format: Hardback
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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

Trailblazing author Isabel Waidner returns with an existential cat-and-mouse story of grief, loss, ambition, and the possibility of making oneself anew.

Two men meet in a flat in London. They are total strangers and yet they look remarkably alike. Lewis is grieving his dead wife; Korine is hiding from his very-much-alive one. Lewis never had children; Korine is an ambivalent parent at best. Lewis is an erstwhile actor, too depressed to attend the big audition that has just fallen into his lap. Korine has tried a dozen dead-end jobs but never pursued his acting dreams.

Two men living mirror image lives. Each seeking a second chance to get things right. Each wanting what the other has.

As If is an existential farce about the road not taken. Surreal and slyly poignant, suffused with ironic melancholia, it is a parable for the twenty-first century everymanβ€” a character trapped in reality's hall of mirrors, endlessly searching for something to live for.

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780241779187

Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd

Format: Hardback

Date Published: 26 February 2026

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Hamish Hamilton Ltd

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 18.0mm

Width: 136.0mm

Height: 206.0mm

Weight: 255g

Pages: 192

About the Author

Isabel Waidner is the author of five novels - including Sterling Karat Gold, which won the Goldsmiths Prize and was shortlisted for the Orwell Prize for Political Fiction and the Republic of Consciousness Prize, and Corey Fah Does Social Mobility which was shortlisted for the Arthur C. Clarke Award. They teach in the School of the Arts at Queen Mary University of London.

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