John Murray possesses the rare knack of combining zany farce with serious themes, making uproarious Rabelaisian comedy serve unexpected ends.
John Dory, is the hilarious yet poignant story of a middle-aged ice-cream salesman, George Singer, who becomes obsessed with the exotic fish in the local aquarium. His unusual passion, triggered by a moment of epiphany, leads him on a profound spiritual journey.
As George flashes back through his extraordinary past, from his wartime childhood to the adulterous relationship that destroyed his marriage, Murray introduces a gallery of wild Cumbrian eccentrics, including the redoutable kiosk vendor Ma Singer and George's illiterate schoolmate, Squinty Bar Radish.
John Dory was shortlisted for the Lakeland Book of the Year, and won the creative category, the first novel to receive such an award in the 19 years of the Awards.
'Every once in a while, comes a novel so brilliantly written, funny and downright surprising that you are prepared to forgive the reams of mediocrity against which it shines so brightly.'
David Whetstone, The Journal, Newcastle
'A Rabelaisian romp..fans of this talented writer will need no persuading; the uninitiated should acquaint themselves.'
Anthea Lawson, The Times
'A lovely book.' Elisa Segrave, The Literary Review
'Any page of John Dory taken at random conveys a tremendous sense of an alternative England out there beyond the reach of newspapers and television...I continue to read him with delight and admiration.'
D.J. Taylor, The Spectator
'Its exuberant story-telling offers ample rewards.' Michael Arditti, The Independent
'The characters and places are vivid, the set pieces are hilarious and though George's epiphany is puzzling, it's also strangely moving.'
Lawrence Phelan, The Independent on Sunday
John Dory costs £7.99 and was published in June 2002.
ISBN: 978-1-873226-46-9
John Murray was born in West Cumbria and now lives in Brampton, near Carlisle. In 1984 he founded the prestigious fiction magazine Panurge, which he and David Almond edited until 1996. He has published a collection of stories, Pleasure, for which he received the Dylan Thomas Award in 1988, and nine critically acclaimed novels: Samarkand, Kin, Reiver Blues, John Dory, Jazz Etc, Murphy's Favourite Channels, Radio Activity, A Gentleman's Relish and The Legend of Liz and Joe.
John Dory won a Lakeland Book of the Year Award in 2002, and Jazz Etc. was longlisted for the Man-Booker Prize in 2003. His 2004 novel, Murphy's Favourite Channels, was a Novel of the Week in the Daily Telegraph, and Radio Activity was the people's choice in voting for the best Cumbrian novel ever.
His web site is at johnmurraynovelist.wordpress.com
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