The Accidental, winner of the prestigous Whitbread award, is a quirky novel sewn together in a patchwork of exuberantly refreshing and vivid narratives. Set during a family holiday in Norfolk, Smith weaves in and out of the insular, funny, poignant interior worlds of the Smart family.

There is twelve year old Astrid, who like her name, burns with astronomical verve as she captures her eccentric childhood days on camera; seventeen year old Magnus who is tormented with the knowledge that he is partly responsible for a trick that led to a girl’s suicide; Dr Michael Smart, a lecherous lecturer who insidiously and irresponsibly seduces his students; and finally Eve, a historical novelist, who discovers that, despite recent literary success, she lacks any remarkable stories to tell. However, when the mysterious and ruddy “Amber” emerges on their doorstep, a new focus infuses their lives, drawing them towards a light that will alter their lives irreparably.

Smith’s high-spirited style, fruity wordplay and uncanny capacity to evoke the tone of her protagonists’ narratives, renders The Accidental an inspiring and unrelenting tour de force of human folly, fate and self-discovery. The form of this semi-experimental novel is both thought-provoking and intriguing. By turns humorous, playful and tender, The Accidental will linger long after you’ve turned the last page.

£7.99
Penguin Books

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