John Herdman's masterpiece of the modern Scottish Gothic appears in print from Leamington Books' imprint Gothic World Literature Editions, with a new introduction from the author.

Black humour and even blacker lives collide in a tale of love and murder on an old Borders family estate.

In a grotesque story told from two contrasting angles we meet the arrogant genius, Frank, and his hated brother Hubert.

Raw and immoral, Imelda is a puzzle, mocking the reader in its quest for answers. Murder and madness this way lie but who if anyone is to be believed in unpicking the deadly secrets behind the birth of cousin Imelda's child?

An assured masterpiece from Scotland's greatest living chronicler of the dark side, Imelda, first published in 1993 became an instant classic of Scottish letters.

Reviews
"Imelda reads like a substantial work of fiction .... a disturbing, grotesquely comic and compelling tale ... irresistible in its intensity ... Imelda is an engaging and arresting psychological study, and it shows Herdman at his very best." Brian McCabe, The Scotsman "Imelda establishes itself from the start as a gripping, substantial tale." Tom Adair, Scotland on Sunday "..... master of a unique, dry, grotesquely humorous voice .... Imelda is the centrepiece .... a masterly mingling of the petty and the paranoid, the pathetic and the boastful, the credible and the incredible .... Herdman deserves to be much more widely known; this subtle, assured little masterpiece should go a long way to establishing him among our foremost novelists." Douglas Gifford, Books in Scotland ".... this dark, tragic story .... Imelda is nightmarish in both its subject and means of narration - and yet is completely and utterly compelling." Angela Finlayson, Chapman "Herdman continues a tradition of Scottish surrealism which has been around since Hogg and Galt." Carl MacDougall, The Glasgow Herald "Herdman's writing is a feat of great wit and invention." Julie Morrice, Scotland on Sunday



Book Information
ISBN 9780993227257
Author John Herdman
Format Paperback
Page Count 178
Imprint Gothic World Literature Editions
Publisher Leamington Books
Dimensions(mm) 198mm * 128mm * 11mm