Beastings

Beastings by Benjamin Myers is a gripping novel that has garnered critical acclaim, winning the Portico Prize for Literature and the Northern Writers' Award. Set against the backdrop of a transforming rural England, this 240-page book tells a compelling story of survival and desperation. The narrative follows a teenage girl who escapes from a workhouse and kidnaps a baby entrusted to her care. As she navigates the treacherous Cumbrian mountains, a local priest embarks on a relentless quest to bring them back. This brilliant and brutal tale, described by Robert Macfarlane as 'a brilliant, brutal novel,' explores themes of resilience, nature, and the human spirit. Published in 2019, Beastings is a must-read for fans of powerful fiction that delves into the complexities of rural life and the struggles of its characters.