Francis Spufford's Nonesuch Offers a Sumptuous Blitz-Era Adventure
Contemporary literary fiction often lacks pure enjoyment, but Francis Spufford is on a dedicated mission to change that with his latest work. Nonesuch, published by Faber at £20 for 496 pages, is now available from the Mail Bookshop. This fourth novel from Spufford transports readers to Blitz-era London, weaving a rich tapestry of mysticism, adventure, and economic theory.
A Tale of Good Versus Evil in Wartime London
The story centers on Iris Hawkins, a forward-thinking and gifted City clerk whose life takes a dramatic turn after an encounter with an incorporeal, shapeshifting being outside a house in Hampstead. Iris finds herself plunged into an esoteric battle between good and evil, teaming up with Geoff, a brilliant TV tech engineer. Their relationship includes lots of thrilling sex, adding a layer of personal intensity to the narrative.
Together, Iris and Geoff race to avert a Nazi time-travelling plot, with Spufford using the mysterious disfigurements of bomb-eviscerated London to create a world that feels both reassuringly familiar and intoxicatingly strange. Despite some readers finding the actual plot to be complete tosh, Spufford's inordinate skill shines through in this transporting mash-up of elements.
Debut Novels Explore Coming-of-Age and Feminist Themes
Alongside Nonesuch, two other notable books are available from the Mail Bookshop, each offering unique perspectives on human experience.
Jean: A Slow-Burn Coming-of-Age Story
Madeleine Dunnigan's debut novel, Jean, published by Daunt Books at £10.99 for 256 pages, initially treads familiar ground. Set in the summer of 1976, it follows Jean, a solitary 17-year-old at an English boarding school for troubled boys. She meets Tom by the lake, where they smoke weed and clumsily engage in other activities.
While the coming-of-age framework remains conventional, Dunnigan skillfully examines the push-pull dynamics of a violent, damaged adolescent. The novel traces his journey towards self-acceptance and understanding, even as he becomes more disillusioned and alone. Dunnigan excels in portraying the bravado-fuelled, treacherous, and furtive relationships between boys in a hermetic environment, with her carefully controlled prose rarely putting a foot wrong.
Our Better Natures: Ambitious Feminist Narrative
Sophie Ward's Our Better Natures, published by Corsair at £22 for 288 pages, presents an ambitious tripartite story of women living in 1970s America but in different worlds. The novel follows three distinct characters:
- Phyllis Patterson, an Illinois housewife whose personal frustrations are highlighted by her son's return from Vietnam with a new mixed-race family.
- Andrea Dworkin, who seeks her voice among new radicals like Noam Chomsky and Michel Foucault after fleeing an abusive marriage.
- Muriel Rukeyser, a poet and anti-war campaigner who petitions for the jailed Korean poet Kim Chi-ha while engaging with intellectual lesbians.
The book's feminist underpinnings are earnestly handled, though Dworkin sometimes feels more like a collection of radical slogans than a fully realised person. Despite this, the novel tackles big ideas with verve, remaining alert to the multiple power dynamics that shape women's lives.
These three works showcase the diversity of contemporary fiction, from Spufford's mystical adventure to Dunnigan's intimate coming-of-age tale and Ward's ambitious feminist exploration. Each book is now available for readers seeking engaging and thought-provoking literary experiences.
