Nicola Barker’s startling visionary narrative. If history is just a sick joke that keeps repeating itself, then who exactly is telling it - and why?

Darkmans is a very modern book, set in Ashford (a ridiculously modern town), about two very old-fashioned subjects: love and jealousy. It’s also a book about invasion, obsession, displacement and possession, about comedy, art, prescription drugs and chiropody. And the main character? The past, which creeps up on the present and whispers something quite dark - quite unspeakable - into its ear.

Shortlisted
The Man Booker Prize 2007
Published by
Fourth Estate
Publication date
Nicola Barker

Nicola Barker

About the Author

Nicola Barker was named as one of the 20 Best Young British Novelists by Granta in 2005. Her work has been translated into over a dozen languages.
More about Nicola Barker

Other nominated books by Nicola Barker

The Yips
Clear: A Transparent Novel