Kaye is at her best when she sticks with her scalpel. Don’t be fooled by the spare, quiet, prose Kaye and her characters will do cartwheels over your expectations – Sara Novic, Author of Girl at War Chronicling a Slovakian Immigrant’s story in the UK, English Animals is an important novel in an uncertain time. Kaye offers an engrossing look at the English countryside, complex in friendship, love, violence and with a touch of mystery.

Its command of tone, narrative and character is so assured, and both its wit and perceptiveness about a certain kind of English life make it a joy to read – Amanda Craig, Author & Journalist Nominated for the 2019 Dublin Literary Award.Įnglish Animals is a sideways look at English rural life, lesbian love story as well as a meditation on our strange relationship with the animal kingdom. Kaye is at her best when she sticks with her scalpel.Debut novel published by Little, Brown in January 2017. A joy to read Amanda Craig Shades of Cold Comfort Farm.Charming Guardian English Animals is a subversive, wry debut that. To order a copy for 14.44 go to or call 03. Kaye's satire usually hits the mark, coming at the expense of rural gastropubs with names like The Snooty Fox,Īs well as the world of hipster taxidermy (Mirka starts assembling Dazed and Confused-friendly scenes called things like 'Freelance squirrels' and 'Rats at an office party'). English Animals by Laura Kaye is published by Little, Brown (16.99). Don't be fooled by the spare, quiet prose Kaye and her characters will do cartwheels over your expectations * Sara Novic, author of Girl At War * Chronicling a Slovakian immigrant's story in the UK, English Animals is an important novel in an uncertain time. A bubble of pleasurable reading * Sainsbury's Magazine * Hyland, author of the Man Booker-shortlisted Carry Me Down *īetter than a burst of February sunshine, this is a pitch-perfect story. When Mirka gets a job in a country house in rural England, she has no idea of the struggle she faces to make sense of a very English couple, and a way of life that is entirely alien to her. Listen to bestselling audiobooks on the web, iPad, iPhone and Android. The dreadful marriage, the horrific father and above all Mirka herself with her courageous honesty and kindness make this something very special * Amanda Craig *Ī beautiful and bold debut * M.J. Listen to English Animals by Laura Kaye with a free trial.

I loved the taxidermy ideas and details, and how beautifully they chimed with the human animal scenes presented. Its command of tone, narrative and character is so assured, and both its wit and perceptiveness about a certain kind of English life make it a joy to read. It's a long time since I've enjoyed any debut novel as much as English Animals. confident novel that engages with love, belonging, prejudice and, above all, quintessential Englishness * Daily Mail * Kaye has a keen eye for social observation.