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It was as though some frenzied ritual were taking place up there in the woods, a savage brawl that seemed to be making its way towards them.
Seeking to escape the stresses of modern life, Franck and Lise, a Parisian couple who have made their living in the film industry, decide to rent out a cottage in the calm, quiet hills of the French Lot.
But nothing is quite what it seems. In this remote corner of the world, there is no phone signal. A wild dog emerges, looking for a new master. Ghosts of a dark, savage past run wild in these hills, where a mysterious German lion tamer took refuge in the First World War.
Franck and Lise are confronted with nature at its most brutal. And they are about to discover that man and beast have more in common than they think.
About the author
Serge Joncour is a French novelist and screenwriter. He was born in Paris in 1961 and studied philosophy at university before deciding to become a writer. His first novel, Vu, was published by Le Dilettante in 1998. He wrote the screenplay for Sarah's Key starring Kristin Scott Thomas, released in 2011. His 2016 novel Repose-toi sur moi won the Prix Interallié. Wild Dog is the first of his novels to be published in English.
Jane Aitken is a publisher and translator from the French.
Polly Mackintosh is a translator from French and has worked on titles from authors such as Antoine Laurain and Serge Joncour.
Summary
WINNER OF THE PRIX LANDERNEAU DES LECTEURS 2018
Described as 'eerie and sensual' by The Guardian, Wild Dog tells the story of a young couple who discover dark secrets in the remote French countryside.
'Reads like a modern fairy tale' New York Journal of Books
Franck and Lise, a French couple in the film industry, rent a cottage in the quiet hills of the French Lot to get away from the stresses of modern life.
In this remote corner of the world, there is no phone signal. A mysterious dog emerges, looking for a new master. Ghosts of a dark past run wild in these hills, where a German lion tamer took refuge in the First World War … Franck and Lise are confronted with nature at its most brutal. And they are about to discover that man and beast have more in common than they think.
A literary sensation in France, Wild Dog is a dark, menacing tale of isolation, human nature and the infinite savagery of the wild.
Additional text
'[A] deservedly award-studded delight' Strong Words Magazine
'A smart, scathing and bleakly funny cross of folk horror, satire and historical fiction' Toronto Star
'Reads like a modern fairy tale' New York Journal of Books
'Wild Dog details a disturbing continuum of savagery, both animal and human. At once eerie and sensual, it’s a timely reminder that, no matter how sophisticated we believe ourselves to be, we are no match for nature' The Guardia
'The suspense seeps from each exquisitely crafted sentence, taking the reader into a world replete with complex emotional and moral dilemmas . . . a raw, brutal and magnificent literary experience' European Literature Network
'Whether you are a regular reader or just looking for your 2020 holiday reading I urge you to take a look at Wild Dog. It is a true five star read' Whispering Stories
‘Holds the reader in suspense until the very last page’ L’Express
‘A magnificent allegory for the ways in which the modern world wears us down … A unique voice’ Le Figaro
‘A hymn to space and calm’ Libération
‘Proof of Serge Joncour’s immense talent and understanding of human subtleties’ Marie Claire
‘An ode to nature’ Le Point
‘Joncour is a magician’ Le Temps
