The town was once a hub of industry. A place where men toiled underground in darkness, picking and shovelling in the dust and the sleck. It was dangerous and back-breaking work but it meant something. Once, the town provided, it was important, it had purpose. But what is it now? Brothers Alex and Brian have spent their whole life in the town where their father lived and his father, too. Still reeling from the collapse of his personal life, Alex, is now in his middle age, and must reckon with a part of his identity he has long tried to mask. Simon is the only child of Alex and had practically no memory of the mines. Now in his twenties and working in a call centre, he derives passion from his side hustle in sex work and his weekly drag gigs as the extravagant Puttana Short Dress. Set across three generations of South Yorkshire mining family, Andrew McMillan's short and magnificent debut novel is a lament for a lost way of a life as well as a celebration of resilience and the possibility for change.
Andrew McMillan
Andrew McMillan is a British poet known for his honest and sensual exploration of masculinity and queer identity. His debut collection, "physical," won the Guardian First Book Award in 2015 and was praised for its raw and intimate portrayal of the male body and desire. McMillan's work often delves into themes of vulnerability, love, and the complexities of relationships. His writing has had a significant impact on contemporary poetry, challenging traditional notions of masculinity and offering a fresh perspective on queer experience. "physical" remains his most famous work, solidifying McMillan's reputation as a powerful and important voice in modern poetry.
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