The boyhood of Cain

Michael Amherst

£16.99

Danny’s family live in a large house close to the school where his father is headmaster. At school, his father’s importance gives Danny certain privileges, but it also sets him apart from his classmates. When a new boy Philip, for whom everything seems easy, arrives, he surprises Danny by wanting to be friends. So when he and Philip are invited to work after school with inspiring, artistic teacher Mr. Miller, Danny believes he has found somewhere he can shine. And then Danny’s world tilts: his father loses his job, and their house. When he finds himself shut out from Mr. Miller and Philip’s world too, his desperation sets him on a course that could lead to the betrayal of all that he loves.

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Publish Date: 13/02/2025

Description

‘A powerful, searing tale.’ André Aciman
‘I read this book with my heart in my mouth and could not put it down.’ Mary Costello
‘Amherst has created a young protagonist of extraordinary depth and complexity.’ Nathan Filer
‘A beautiful coming-of-age story.’ Michael Magee

Danny’s family live in a large house close to the school where his father is headmaster. At school, his father’s importance gives Danny certain privileges, but it also sets him apart from his classmates. When a new boy Philip, for whom everything seems easy, arrives, he surprises Danny by wanting to be friends. So when he and Philip are invited to work after school with inspiring, artistic teacher Mr. Miller, Danny believes he has found somewhere he can shine.

Until Danny’s world tilts: his father loses his job, and their house. And then Danny finds himself shut out from Mr. Miller and Philip’s world too. Desperate to make amends, he keeps trying to find a way back in, but will Danny’s efforts send things spinning beyond everyone’s control?

Reader’s love The Boyhood of Cain
?????’Beautifully written study of childhood innocence into adolescence. Short but perfectly formed.’
?????’Emotional and very atmospheric.’
?????’So evocative.’
????’The book captures the delicate, almost ethereal atmosphere of English summers and schoolyard anxieties.’
????’The insight into the mind of the boy is exceptional and the result is very moving.’

Additional information

Dimensions 216 × 135 mm
Author

Publisher

Imprint

Cover

Hardback

Pages

256

Language

English

Edition

Hardback original

Dewey

823.92 (edition:23)

Readership

General – Trade / Code: K