The tale of a loser editing a dingy literary magazine who decides to set up a literary festival.Written as a series of letters between various characters, affecting the life of Andrew Whittaker, this is a brilliantly funny and clever book, from the pen of the author of the equally brilliant Firmin. What a shame the author took up writing quite late in life but let’s hope he now continues for many years to come. A wonderful read.
Surviving on a diet of fried Spam and vodka, Andrew Whittaker is the editor of a small and slightly dingy literary magazine - SOAP: A JOURNAL OF THE ARTS. Through this journal, he hopes to fan the flames of literary excellence, publishing such debuts as THE TOILETS OF ANNAPURNA and the intriguing mirror poetry of Miriam Wildercamp. But life is not simple. His tenants are tiring of their blocked drains and killer-mice, his ex-wife wants money, and he is pursued by a frustrated Canadian. Having fallen out with the local arts community he decides to set up a literary festival in order to save his failing journal - but will this be Andrew Whittaker's moment of glory or his Waterloo? THE CRY OF THE SLOTH is the brilliantly funny yet touching portrait of one of life's underdogs, a dreamer bewildered by the world and his place in it.
A native of South Carolina now living in Madison, WIsconsin, Sam Savage received his bachelor and doctoral degrees in Philosophy from Yale University where he taught briefly. He has worked as a bicycle mechanic, carpenter, commercial fisherman and letterpress printer. This is his first novel.
