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Demon Copperhead  By  cover art

Demon Copperhead

By: Barbara Kingsolver
Narrated by: Charlie Thurston
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Publisher's summary

Demon Copperhead is a once-in-a-generation novel that breaks and mends your heart in the way only the best fiction can.

WINNER OF THE WOMEN'S PRIZE FOR FICTION 2023

SHORTLISTED FOR THE ORWELL PRIZE FOR POLITICAL FICTION

SHORTLISTED FOR THE JAMES TAIT BLACK PRIZE FOR FICTION

THE MULTI-MILLION COPY SELLING AUTHOR

BOOK AT BEDTIME ON BBC RADIO 4

AN OPRAH BOOK CLUB PICK

Demon’s story begins with his traumatic birth to a single mother in a single-wide trailer, looking ‘like a little blue prizefighter.’ For the life ahead of him he would need all of that fighting spirit, along with buckets of charm, a quick wit, and some unexpected talents, legal and otherwise.

In the southern Appalachian Mountains of Virginia, poverty and addiction aren’t ideas. They’re as natural as the grass grows. For Demon, born on the wrong side of luck, the affection and safety he craves is as remote as the ocean he dreams of seeing one day. The wonder is in how far he’s willing to travel to try and get there.

Suffused with truth, anger and compassion, Demon Copperhead is an epic tale of love, loss and everything in between.

©2022 Faber & Faber (P)2022 Faber & Faber

Critic reviews

‘Daring, entertaining and highly readable’ The Times

'It's EPIC. Righteously angry, DEEPLY moving and exquisitely written.' Marian Keyes

‘Emotionally raw and riotously entertaining’ Spectator

What listeners say about Demon Copperhead

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Another winner!

This is a book both relevant and insightful.
It was a rollercoaster of a ride but worth going on

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Timely. A great read.

The characters jumped off the pages. Never a slump. The ending felt a bit rushed, but still a winner.

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Best Kingsolver book by far

I have read almost all Barbara Kingsolver books and everyone has their favourite. Mine use to be the Poisonwood Bible. But there is maturity and depth of quality in this prose and unique rural people and attachment to the land and culture that draws you in to the sad and equally hope story.

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Broke my heart in the most beautiful way

Magnificent. Listened to the whole 20-ish hours in just 3 days.

Right from the outset your heart will be with Damon; Kingslover’s ability to grow your empathy for the plight of those in our world often dismissed and laughed at is compassionate, masterful and (thankfully!) void of condescension.

My Australian ears were worried I’d be able to take the accent, but that was forgotten within minutes and I felt rightly chastised for the subconscious bias that led to that initial reaction within hours.

A stunning and poetic look at big political and sociology-economic issues in a form normally reserved for polemics.

Left it feeling better educated, more enlightened, and that the cracks it gave my heart have opened it, not shattered it. A true joy - a heartbreaker, yes- but still a true joy.

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Wow!

This is a story that will break your heart! All the more for feeling as if it is probably the story of many a real child…read so beautifully too, that accent made the character just come alive.

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Story of childhood trauma and drug abuse

A deeply moving story, that places you in the mind of a young teenager and young adult who is the result of a drug home and the resulting drug addiction.
Although a heavy topic, it was beautifully written and I became very involved in the story.

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Thank you Barbara

If your looking for a book to fall into then I absolutely recommend this novel.
Charlie Thurston was perfect as the narrator.
I will miss Demon and his sense of humour a lot.

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Magnificent!

Wonderfully immersive story - I’m a big fan of Charles Dickens and it really is Dickensian. The narrator is a superstar, perfect throughout!

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Loved it

She is a brilliant storyteller. The story pulls you in, despite the distressing theme. Highly recommended.

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Amazing journey of a young boy to man.

It is an utterly gripping account of a young boy, growing into a man in the most dire circumstances. I had to put it down for days at a time to give myself time to process all that the book took me through.

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