I Am Sovereign
I Am Sovereign by Nicola Barker, published by Penguin Random House on July 16, 2020, is a 224-page work that explores the complexities of human interaction through a seemingly mundane scenario. The narrative centers on Charles, a forty-year-old teddy bear maker, who is attempting to sell his late mother’s house with the assistance of his estate agent, Avigail. The story unfolds during a twenty-minute viewing with potential buyers, raising questions about the significance of small moments and the nature of change.
Readers will find a blend of humor and psychological insight as the characters navigate their interactions, particularly with the formidable Wang Shu and her daughter, Ying Yue. The book delves into themes of control and the absurdities of everyday life, inviting contemplation on whether fiction can indeed influence reality. This edition, written in English, presents a unique take on literary fiction, characterized by Barker’s distinctive style and wit.
Official synopsis Publisher
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‘One of the funniest, most finely achieved comic novels, even by her own standard … I think it’s a masterpiece.’ ALI SMITH
‘I think Nicola Barker is incapable of a dull page. Her work is unified by its spirit of adventure.’ KEVIN BARRY
How long does it take to change the world?
Could it happen in approximately twenty minutes?
Charles, a forty-year-old teddy bear maker, is trying to sell his late mother’s house, helped by his estate agent Avigail (who thinks Charles is an imbecile). The prospective buyers- the fearsome Wang Shu – who has no desire to make idle chit-chat – and her downtrodden daughter, Ying Yue.
During the twenty-minute viewing a huge number of things happen, although it is also entirely possible that nothing happens at all. Which is it? Can the world really turn on its axis during a mundane discussion about cheese preservation? Has fiction the power to do that? Should it even want to?
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‘She really is a genius.’ GUARDIAN
‘Life-affirming hilarity – Evelyn Waugh on ecstasy.’ NELL ZINK
‘A madly brilliant little book that asks who at any point is in control of what. I loved it.’ DAILY MAIL
‘Nicola Barker’s wildness and capacity for the absurd often delight me.’ SARAH MOSS
‘What an audacious writer Nicola Barker is … In an era when plot is king, Barker has typically, joyously, dispensed with one … Barker’s pleasure in the novella feels defiant.’ EVENING STANDARD
‘I Am Sovereign is bursting with energy, compassion and humour.’ LITERARY REVIEW
‘Barker is a writer in a class of her own … A work of coruscating intelligence, of deep humanity.’ OBSERVER
‘A riotous burst of a novel that scrutinises the nature of fiction with the lightest of touches.’ MAIL ON SUNDAY
‘A bracing, brilliantly bonkers comic novel … This is freewheeling fiction that delights in the visual.’ SUNDAY TIMES
‘Barker’s writing is very, very funny, both ha ha and strange … Fans of Ali Smith’s “Seasonal Quartet” will enjoy a similarly arch, detached view on the banality of contemporary Britain … A gloriously audacious blend of, well, the deep and the trite.’ INDEPENDENT
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