The assured debut novel from the popular comedian is the bitterly comic story of a wannabe writer and an established author battling their demons in small-town Scotland.
Waterstones Scottish Book of the Month for June 2023
The Black Dog is the exciting debut novel from one of Britain's most-loved comedians, Kevin Bridges.
Declan dreams of becoming a writer. It's a dream that helps him escape the realities of his life - going through the motions at college and stacking supermarket shelves part-time, whilst fighting a battle with the ever-darkening thoughts in his head.
He has his pet Labrador for companionship and his best friend-turned-mentor, a pseudo-intellectual who works as a greenskeeper at the local municipal golf course, both of which help keep the worst of his anxieties at bay. But following a drunken row with local gangsters, Declan's worries threaten to spiral out of control.
James Cavani - Declan's idol and his hometown's claim to fame - is a renowned writer, director and actor. But despite his success, his past hasn't relinquished its hold of him, and through his younger sister's battle with drug addiction, he finds himself returning to a world he thought he had escaped.
At face value, their lives couldn't be more different, but perhaps fate has a way of bringing kindred spirits together - and perhaps each holds the other's redemption in their hands.
Publisher: Headline Publishing Group
ISBN: 9781472289070
Number of pages: 400
Weight: 280 g
Dimensions: 196 x 128 x 28 mm
MEDIA REVIEWS
'Edgy, dark, funny and perceptive... and very sharply observed.' - The Herald
'One of the funniest stand-up comedians in world and now the author of a brilliant novel. Kevin's talent is starting to annoy me now.' - Rob Beckett
'Immensely readable, fast moving and an insight into two sides of Kevin Bridges, I really enjoyed it. Kevin's warmth and wit shine through in his first novel. Never a dull moment and an array of engaging, quirky characters. A funny and absorbing read with some great insights into the world of negotiating being famous.' - Jo Brand
I've just finished The Black Dog with a massive lump in my throat - what a brilliant book. Touching, raucous, visceral and really funny with some moments of real profundity.' - Harriet Tyce
'I love this book. Brilliantly drawn, believable characters of raw heart and honesty. Cannot recommend enough.' - Matt Coyne
'Vulnerable and raw - this is a beautiful debut novel from the king of comedic storytelling.' - Tom Allen
'It's funny (obviously) and dark (obviously) but tender and surprising, too.' - Bobby Palmer
'Watching Kevin, I was sure he was born to be a stand-up comic, but reading his book it is clear he can do absolutely anything he sets his mind to. I look forward to visiting his Michelin starred restaurant and living on his self-built space community. Everything that is great about Kevin's stand up - the characters he creates, the unapologetic root in working class life, the straddling of worlds - is what's great about this book.' - Jon Richardson
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