The Zoo

Kurztext / Annotation

Patrick deWitt meets Catch 22, when a guileless young boy gets mixed up in Stalin's inner circle.

'A wonderfully inventive and slyly constructed novel, horrifying, horribly funny, and disgracefully entertaining.' John Banville

Langtext

An Observer and Spectator Book of the Year
Shortlisted for the Historical Writing Association Gold Crown Award

Meet Yuri Zipit.

A boy who's had a bang on the head in a collision with a Moscow milk truck.

He has a kind face, makes friends easily, and likes to help. People want to tell him their secrets.

Including the Great Leader himself, who takes a shine to Yuri when he employs him for his natural talents.

In his new job, Yuri will witness it all - betrayals, body doubles, buffoonery. Who knew that a man could be in five places at once? That someone could break your nose as a sign of friendship? That people could be disinvented . . .?

The Zoo is a brilliantly cutting satire told through the voice of one incredible boy.

Biografische Anmerkung zu den Verfassern

Wilson, Christopher

Christopher Wilson is the author of several novels including Gallimauf's Gospel, Baa, Blueglass, Mischief, Fou, The Wurd, The Ballad of Lee Cotton and Nookie. His work has been translated into several languages, adapted for the stage and twice shortlisted for the Whitbread Fiction Prize.

Wilson completed a published PhD on the psychology of humour at LSE, worked widely as a research psychologist and semiotic consultant, and lectured for ten years at Goldsmiths' College, London University. He has taught creative writing in prisons, at university and for The Arvon Foundation. He lives in North London.