Human, Animal

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Pub Date 10 Jun 2025 | Archive Date 11 Oct 2024
VERVE Books | Verve Books
General Fiction (Adult) | LGBTQIA | Literary Fiction

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Description

Human, Animal is an ode to the wild, an elegy for what we have lost and a reproof of our society's inability to find common ground. Since the death of his brother, veteran dairy farmer George has been struggling to keep the family business afloat. His troubles only worsen when animal rights activists descend on his cowshed one morning to film content for their social media. The fallout is unprecedented, especially as George's youngest child appears to side with the activists. As the family navigate the real-world consequences of going viral, George's elderly mother sleepwalks back to her youth, and a secret she has carried with her for decades - one that could change everything for them all. A revealing debut novel about the importance of connection in a divided world, exploring themes of family, identity, the enduring effects of conflict and the friction between tradition and progress - from land use and animal rights, to gender, sexuality and relationships. Human, Animal is perfect for fans of Pity by Andrew McMillan, Young Mungo by Douglas Stuart, A Town Called Solace by Mary Lawson and The Discomfort of Evening by Marieke Rijneveld.
Human, Animal is an ode to the wild, an elegy for what we have lost and a reproof of our society's inability to find common ground. Since the death of his brother, veteran dairy farmer George has...
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Advance Praise

'Blisteringly emotional, exploring the complex folds of family bonds. The last page left me haunted. Completely unmissable' - Lucy Rose, author of The Lamb

'Empathetic, beautifully written, and deeply moving, Seth Insua's debut novel explores generational trauma and the strength it takes to truly understand those closest to us. A bridge across viewpoints in divided times, Human, Animal is a must-read' - Bonnie Burke-Patel, author of I Died at Fallow Hall

'In his remarkable debut, Seth Insua achieves the feat of delivering on a compelling drama while also making the reader think and feel... Timely, funny and moving, Human, Animal reminds us how powerful the novel can be in the hands of a true writer' - Charles Fernyhough, author of A Box of Birds

'Blisteringly emotional, exploring the complex folds of family bonds. The last page left me haunted. Completely unmissable' - Lucy Rose, author of The Lamb

'Empathetic, beautifully written, and deeply...

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Available Editions

EDITION Other Format
ISBN 9780857308894
PRICE US$17.99 (USD)
PAGES 320

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Additional Information

Average rating from 6 members

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Featured Reviews

A heartwarming story of coping with and accepting change, no matter how things have always been done.. it took me a while to get into this, and I was a little unsure at first, expecting this to be one big whinge about the farming industry. It really isn’t. My second ever book featuring the use of singular ‘they’ and it was incredibly refreshing!

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Set in the English countryside, a struggling dairy farm in present day is rocked by a families inability to connect and understand each other whilst a vegan activist group begin to invade and vilify the farm’s practices and conditions alongside the exploration of the journal of a German prisoner of war in World War Two. A blistering novel about the nuances of acceptance, modernity, empathy, and the need for self discovery, Seth Insua creates a vivid microcosm of generations young and old struggling to bridge the gap between cultural views and values. A beautiful exploration of family, identity, and the idea of inherited values.

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An interesting read, it took a little bit of time to get into the novel but I was pleasantly surprised by the book overall. A heartwarming story that will stay with me for a while.

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