'A lyrical and plain-spoken portrait of humanity at its pernicious worst and its suffering, creative, resilient best.' --Carys Davies, author of West

'Profoundly a book for our time, full of despair, sorrow, terror, hope and tenderness.' --Gregory Norminton, author of The Devil's Highway

'A beautifully crafted tender, evocative collection. Full of wisdom and light.' --Irenosen Okojie, author of Speak Gigantular

Born in Salford, DAVID CONSTANTINE has published several volumes of poetry, and two novels (most recently The Life-Writer) as well as four previous short story collections: Back at the Spike (1994), the highly acclaimed Under the Dam (2005), The Shieling (2009) and Tea at the Midland (2012), which won the Frank O'Connor International Short Story Award in 2013. David's story 'Tea at the Midland' won the 2010 National Short Story Award, and his story 'In Another Country' was adapted into 45 Years, an Oscar-nominated film, directed by Andrew Haigh and starring Tom Courtenay and Charlotte Rampling. With his wife Helen, David edited Modern Poetry in Translation for many years. He is also translator of Hölderlin, Brecht, Goethe, Kleist, Michaux and Jaccottet. He lives in Oxford.

---