First published 2025
David Remfry sits in his cramped London flat, staring at a blank page that mirrors his creative void. The novelist who once commanded literary attention now struggles to write a single coherent sentence. His publisher grows impatient. His savings dwindle. His relationships fracture under the weight of his artistic paralysis. Remfry ventures into the city seeking inspiration, wandering through galleries, cafes, and bookshops where other writers once found their voices. He encounters fellow artists, former lovers, and strangers who challenge his assumptions about creativity and purpose. Each interaction forces him deeper into questions he has avoided: What happens when talent abandons you? Can artistic identity survive creative failure? As Remfry confronts the possibility that his writing career may be over, he must decide whether to surrender to his circumstances or fight for a different kind of artistic life. Aridjis crafts a story about the fragility of creative confidence and the courage required to rebuild when inspiration fails.
Genres: literary-fiction, contemporary, adult-fiction, 21st-century
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: artistic-paralysis, creative-failure, writer
Setting: London
Period: 21st-century
192 pages · Hardcover · Lund Humphries Publishers Ltd