Description
365 is James Robertson's innovative collection of 365 stories, each 365 words long.
In 2013, James Robertson wrote a story every day. Each was exactly 365 words long. A year later, on a daily basis, the stories were published on the Five Dials website. Now the 365 stories are gathered together in one volume. Some draw on elements of ancient myth and legend, others are outtakes from Scottish history and folklore; there are squibs and satires, songs and ballads in disguise, fairytales, stories inspired by dreams or in the form of interviews, and personal memories and observations.
Underpinning all of them are vital questions: Who are we? What are we doing here? What happens next?
'Wow. James Robertson wrote a 365-word short story each day in 2013. They'll be posted throughout 2014' Ian Rankin, via Twitter
'A great storyteller' The Times
'One of Britain's best contemporary novelists' Irvine Welsh, Guardian
James Robertson is the author of five novels, The Professor of Truth, And the Land Lay Still, The Testament of Gideon Mack, Joseph Knight and The Fanatic. The Testament of Gideon Mack was longlisted for the 2006 Man Booker Prize and selected for Richard and Judy's Book Club the following year. Joseph Knight was the Saltire Scottish Book of the Year in 2003 and And the Land Lay Still was recipient of the same prize in 2010.
Underpinning all of them are insistent and vital questions- who are we? What are we doing here? What happens next? And, again and again, Robertson interrogates the matter of what a story is, and why stories are crucial to humans both as individuals and as members of families and wider communities.
About the Author
James Robertson is the author of The Fanatic, Joseph Knight, The Testament of Gideon Mack, And the Land Lay Still, The Professor of Truth and To Be Continued. Joseph Knight won the Saltire Society Scottish Book of the Year and the Scottish Arts Council Book of the Year, The Testament of Gideon Mack was longlisted for the 2006 Man Booker Prize, and And the Land Lay Still won the Saltire Society Scottish Book of the Year. Robertson is also the author of four short story collections, most recently 365: Stories, five poetry collections and numerous children's books written in English and Scots. He runs the independent publishing house Kettillonia, and he is co-founder and general editor of the Scots language imprint Itchy Coo, which produces books in Scots for children and young adults.
Reviews
A masterclass in the ventriloquism of fiction . . . a fertile mind and a great generosity of ideas * Guardian *
An anthology of possibility about what the short form can do -- Stuart Kelly * Scotsman *
the sheer diversity on display. . . keeps us turning the pages and trawling the months. * National *
There is a huge diversity of subject matter and form across these stories, demonstrating the Scottish novelist's wide-ranging eye, and there is also a lightness; a wink and a playful nod that perhaps Robertson doesn't get to display in his more serious, longer pieces of fiction. * Big Issue *
If you're looking for a Christmas present that keeps on giving . . . or if you fancy this yourself and can drop huge hints in someone's ear, then I don't think you could go wrong with 365 * dovegreyreder *
What can you say in a few words? Everything, it seems. 365 worlds pressed between two covers -- Ali Bowden * Scotsman *
Perfectly crafted -- Neil Ascherson * Herald *
Book Information
ISBN 9780241146866
Author James Robertson
Format Paperback
Page Count 416
Imprint Penguin Books Ltd
Publisher Penguin Books Ltd
Weight(grams) 407g
Dimensions(mm) 216mm * 135mm * 30mm