The Mermaid of Black Conch

Monique Roffey author

Format:Paperback

Publisher:Vintage Publishing

Published:10th Jun '21

Should be back in stock very soon

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The Mermaid of Black Conch cover

Escape to the ocean this summer with the Costa Book of the Year 2020

Escape to the ocean this Christmas with this entrancing, unforgettable mermaid romance.

‘A daring, mesmerising novel… A modern myth’ Maggie O’Farrell, author of HAMNET

‘Not your standard mermaid’ Margaret Atwood, author of THE HANDMAID’S TALE

Near the island of Black Conch, a fisherman sings to himself while waiting for a catch. But David attracts a sea-dweller that he never expected – Aycayia, an innocent young woman cursed by jealous wives to live as a mermaid.

When American tourists capture Aycayia, David rescues her and vows to win her trust. Slowly, painfully, she transforms into a woman again. Yet as their love grows, they discover that the world around them is changing – and they cannot escape the curse for ever…

‘Bighearted… A world that it is a pleasure to live inside’ New York Times

‘Sensuous, beguiling, wondrous… A striking achievement’ Sunday Times

‘A fiercely modern mermaid story’ The Times

‘A unique talent’ Bernardine Evaristo, author of GIRL, WOMAN, OTHER

‘Gorgeous… I was enthralled, enchanted and moved’ 5-star reader review

‘A tale of love, the sea and a mermaid… Perfection’ 5-star reader review

A daring, mesmerising novel that continually unseats expectation - I was deliciously unsure, throughout, what would happen next. With her fierce and shapeshifting mermaid, Roffey has created a modern myth about belonging and the bonds humans form with each other and with their land, single-handedly bringing magic realism up to date -- Maggie O’Farrell, No.1 bestselling author of Hamnet
I absolutely devoured The Mermaid of Black Conch. It's wonderful, immersive, evocative... A masterclass of world-building -- Bridget Collins, No.1 bestselling author of The Binding
Once I had started it, I couldn't stop. It was quite unlike anything I'd ever read. Such brilliant myth-making; such powerful storytelling -- Clare Chambers, author of Small Pleasures
About wonder, spectacle, as well as greed. The writing is exquisite -- Elizabeth Macneal, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Doll Factory and Circus of Wonders
A reading experience as captivating as a tropical storm. Full-throated and mesmerizing -- C. Pam Zhang, Booker-longlisted author of How Much of These Hills is Gold
Bighearted . . . Sentence by sensuous sentence, Roffey builds a verdant, complicated world that it is a pleasure to live inside . . . A fairy tale. But it is a ghost story too * New York Times *
Sensuous, beguiling . . . Roffey's tale convincingly transplants a mythical creature into a modern setting . . . Wondrous * Sunday Times *
Wonderfully written, with both soul and intense drama - it glistens almost, like the mermaid! -- Diana Evans, author of Ordinary People
Stunning . . . A mesmerising read -- Nathan Filer, Costa-winning author of The Shock of the Fall
Extraordinary, beautifully written . . . We found it completely compelling . . . It feels like a classic in the making -- Costa Judges, 2020

  • Winner of Costa Novel Award 2021 (UK)
  • Short-listed for The Folio Prize 2021 (UK)
  • Short-listed for The Goldsmiths Prize 2021 (UK)
  • Long-listed for Orwell Prize 2021 (UK)

ISBN: 9781529115499

Dimensions: 196mm x 128mm x 16mm

Weight: 188g

272 pages