Longlisted for the Edge Hill Prize

Like Fado consists of thirteen individual stories that culminate in the extended novella-like story, 'Whitethorn'. Each story takes us into the lived experience and psychological dilemmas of its characters, dissolving certitude in favour of richly ambivalent and suggestive endings as storylines merge and diverge, enriching each other through their narrative resonance. The natural world is brought to life in vivid detail in locations that range from the North-West of England to Europe and Africa, whilst the interior lives of characters form the dramatic locus of each piece, rendered in language that is precise, lyrical and evocative.

About the Author
Graham Mort, poet and short fiction writer, is Professor of Creative Writing and Transcultural Literature at Lancaster University. He specialises in literature development work and recent projects have taken him to South Africa, Kurdistan, Vietnam and China. His first book of stories, Touch (Seren), won the Edge Hill Prize in 2011 and his latest book of stories, Terroir (Seren), is currently long-listed for the same prize. A new book of poems, Black Shiver Moss, will appear from Seren in 2017.

Reviews

Graham Mort's latest short story collection, Like Fado, is a wonderfully engaging read. The thirteen stories are standalones, but they share thematic and textual traits that bind them into a single whole.

-- Paul Taylor-McCartney * Everybody's Reviewing *

This is strong and emotive writing . . . fluid and impressive, conveying thoughts with honesty

-- Jackie Law * Neverimitate *

Set in all parts of the world, all of the stories have richly formed characters and there is enough detail of each of them for you to be able to grasp their backstory as they are thrust deep into the plot. They feel like real people too, not wildly implausible characters, doing real, mundane things and experiencing the joys and pains of life.

-- Paul Cheney * Halfman, Halfbook *

As I work my way through the pages, I find myself asking whether I am reading a life experience and if not, how on earth did the writer's mind bring such imagery and paint them with words on the page ... Lockdown may well be releasing its hold on our lives but please do not give up on reading and buy yourself a copy.

-- SuAndi * Black Arts Alliance Newsletter *


Awards
Long-listed for Edge Hill Prize for the Short Story 2021 (UK).



Book Information
ISBN 9781784632274
Author Dr Graham Mort
Format Paperback
Page Count 304
Imprint Salt Publishing
Publisher Salt Publishing
Dimensions(mm) 198mm * 129mm * 23mm