The Brilliant & Forever
Published by Birlinn Limited
A Scottish isle hosts a literary festival in this humorous yet tragic novel by the author of A Method Actor's Guide to Jekyll and Hyde.
On an island like no other, populated by writers, the annual Brilliant & Forever Festival is a much anticipated event; its participants a story away from either glory or infamy. This year, three best friends—two human, one alpaca—are chosen to compete, so victory is not only about reward. This is a novel like no other; a wonderful, provocative tussle, a whip-cracking, energetic, laugh-out-loud satire on what we value in culture, and in our lives. And yet, written with exquisite warmth and empathy, it’s also a moving exploration of integrity, friendship and belonging. It’ll split your sides and break your heart.
Praise for The Brilliant & Forever
“Laugh-out-loud funny. It’s so refreshing to read a book that isn’t like anything else.” —David Robinson
“A wise warm-hearted meditation on the human condition.” —TheScotsman (UK)
“Full of wry detail and satirical flourish, a demonstration of virtuoso storytelling. MacNeil atomizes the process of othering by which communities define themselves. All of that makes it sound overly serious, which it isn’t: MacNeil’s prose style keeps things light, lyrical, and funny.” —The Skinny
“The reader will realize that this charming, sad novel is inspired by Italo Calvino . . . . It is a joy to read such an engaging, luminous novel, which dissects rather than enacts our cultural cringe.” —The Guardian (UK)
On an island like no other, populated by writers, the annual Brilliant & Forever Festival is a much anticipated event; its participants a story away from either glory or infamy. This year, three best friends—two human, one alpaca—are chosen to compete, so victory is not only about reward. This is a novel like no other; a wonderful, provocative tussle, a whip-cracking, energetic, laugh-out-loud satire on what we value in culture, and in our lives. And yet, written with exquisite warmth and empathy, it’s also a moving exploration of integrity, friendship and belonging. It’ll split your sides and break your heart.
Praise for The Brilliant & Forever
“Laugh-out-loud funny. It’s so refreshing to read a book that isn’t like anything else.” —David Robinson
“A wise warm-hearted meditation on the human condition.” —TheScotsman (UK)
“Full of wry detail and satirical flourish, a demonstration of virtuoso storytelling. MacNeil atomizes the process of othering by which communities define themselves. All of that makes it sound overly serious, which it isn’t: MacNeil’s prose style keeps things light, lyrical, and funny.” —The Skinny
“The reader will realize that this charming, sad novel is inspired by Italo Calvino . . . . It is a joy to read such an engaging, luminous novel, which dissects rather than enacts our cultural cringe.” —The Guardian (UK)
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