The Mermaid of Black Conch by Monique Roffey

The Mermaid of Black Conch by Monique Roffey

Escape to the ocean with the entrancing, unforgettable winner of the Costa Book of the Year – as read on BBC Radio 4.

‘A daring, mesmerising novel… A modern myth’ Maggie O’Farrell, author of HAMNET

‘Not your standard mermaid’ Margaret Atwood, author of THE HANDMAID’S TALE

Near the island of Black Conch, a fisherman sings to himself while waiting for a catch. But David attracts a sea-dweller that he never expected – Aycayia, an innocent young woman cursed by jealous wives to live as a mermaid.

When American tourists capture Aycayia, David rescues her and vows to win her trust. Slowly, painfully, she transforms into a woman again. Yet as their love grows, they discover that the world around them is changing – and they cannot escape the curse for ever…

‘Bighearted… A world that it is a pleasure to live inside’ New York Times

‘Sensuous, beguiling, wondrous… A striking achievement’ Sunday Times

‘A fiercely modern mermaid story’ The Times

‘A unique talent’ Bernardine Evaristo, author of GIRL, WOMAN, OTHER

‘Gorgeous… I was enthralled, enchanted and moved’ 5-star reader review

‘A tale of love, the sea and a mermaid… Perfection’ 5-star reader review

A daring, mesmerising novel that continually unseats expectation - I was deliciously unsure, throughout, what would happen nextWith her fierce and shapeshifting mermaid, Roffey has created a modern myth about belonging and the bonds humans form with each other and with their land, single-handedly bringing magic realism up to date -- Maggie O’Farrell, No.1 bestselling author of Hamnet
I absolutely devoured The Mermaid of Black Conch. It's wonderful, immersive, evocative... A masterclass of world-building -- Bridget Collins, No.1 bestselling author of The Binding
Once I had started it, I couldn't stop. It was quite unlike anything I'd ever read. Such brilliant myth-making; such powerful storytelling -- Clare Chambers, author of Small Pleasures
About wonder, spectacle, as well as greed. The writing is exquisite -- Elizabeth Macneal, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Doll Factory and Circus of Wonders
A reading experience as captivating as a tropical storm. Full-throated and mesmerizing -- C. Pam Zhang, Booker-longlisted author of How Much of These Hills is Gold
Bighearted . . . Sentence by sensuous sentence, Roffey builds a verdant, complicated world that it is a pleasure to live inside . . . A fairy tale. But it is a ghost story too * New York Times *
Sensuous, beguiling . . . Roffey's tale convincingly transplants a mythical creature into a modern setting . . . Wondrous * Sunday Times *
Wonderfully written, with both soul and intense drama - it glistens almost, like the mermaid! -- Diana Evans, author of Ordinary People
Stunning . . . A mesmerising read -- Nathan Filer, Costa-winning author of The Shock of the Fall
Extraordinary, beautifully written . . . We found it completely compelling . . . It feels like a classic in the making -- Costa Judges, 2020

Monique Roffey was born in Port of Spain, Trinidad, and lives in London. She is the author of seven novels and a memoir. The Mermaid of Black Conch won the Costa Book of the Year and the Costa Novel Award and was shortlisted for the Rathbones Folio Prize and the Goldsmiths Prize. Her other highly acclaimed books include Archipelago, which won the OCM Bocas Prize for Caribbean Literature, The White Woman on the Green Bicycle and House of Ashes. In addition to her work as an environmental activist, she is a professor of contemporary fiction at Manchester Metropolitan University.

SKU	Unavailable
ISBN 13	9781529115499
ISBN 10	1529115493
Title	The Mermaid of Black Conch
Author	Monique Roffey
Condition	Unavailable
Binding Type	Paperback
Publisher	Vintage Publishing
Year published	2021-06-10
Number of pages	272
Prizes	Winner of Costa Novel Award 2021 (UK), Short-listed for The Folio Prize 2021 (UK), Short-listed for The Goldsmiths Prize 2021 (UK), Long-listed for Orwell Prize 2021 (UK)
Cover note	Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.