A post-modern puzzle about self and identity.

Alexander embarks on a remarkable experiment, the likes of which no one has attempted before, maybe that's why there is a detective watching him. With Penny, Alexander is a gadfly, mucking her about, unable to see past her beauty; but with Melanie, he has met his match. It is remarkable how quickly the mood shifts from talk of big questions (religion, God, beauty, how mirrors lie) to the perfectly ordinary nuances between a couple.

About the Author
Mark Carew was born in Wales and grew up near Sudbury, Suffolk. He began working life as a scientist, receiving a PhD in cell physiology from Cambridge, and, until recently, was Associate Professor at Kingston University. Writing gradually took over during that time, with the publication of short stories, and the novels The Book of Alexander and Magnus. He now works as a freelance medical writer. He lives in Surrey with his wife and two children.

Reviews

The Book of Alexander was an interesting novel, very much a thought experiment in fictional form. We're always wondering about the detective as much as his quarry and this makes for a rather mysterious read, another very enjoyable debut from Salt.

* Shiny New Books *

[A] disturbing, self-reflective chiller. The shifting perspectives demonstrate how filtered any observation of people will be. Alexander seeks subjects for his art. The reader may find themselves captured by his gaze.

-- Jackie Law * neverimitate *

Mark Carew's debut novel is written with a wit and compassion that is second to none. Alexander is about to embark on a remarkable never before attempted experiment - he will find who he is by writing a book as if he were a detective. The more you read of Alexander's story, the more you fall in love with him and with Carew's humor, which is deeply embedded into his writing.

-- Daniel George * Big Issue in the North *

The detective begins the job, he spies on Alex and Penny too, they seem to be rowing. The detective makes notes in what will become The Book of Alexander. Penny is soon gone, Ruth replaces her within hours, there are other women interested in Alexander and vice versa. The book contains Alexander's reading preferences, the contents of his computer, his sexual partners and connections to the outside world and a wider view of his philosophical understanding of the world. Does it bring him to any greater understanding of self for Alexander? You decide.

This is a first novel of promise, a second, Magnus, will be published in 2019.

-- Paul Burke * NB Magazine *



Book Information
ISBN 9781784631321
Author Mark Carew
Format Paperback
Page Count 224
Imprint Salt Publishing
Publisher Salt Publishing
Dimensions(mm) 198mm * 129mm * 16mm