When an overcrowded dinghy capsizes at sea, a doctor is among those refugees thrown overboard. In the ensuing panic, he saves one life and condemns another.
The doctor and the boy he has saved-the only surviving witness to the crime-eventually reach a tiny Greek island where they are offered shelter by the owner of a small travelling circus, itself marooned in the off-season.
Debt-ridden, the circus owner knows that his most valuable asset is an Asian elephant, far from her natural habitat but lovingly tended by the owner's wife even as she mourns their 10-year old daughter. As the refugees await a long-deferred ferry to take them onto the next stage of their journey, the doctor is drawn to his host's wife, all the while keeping his young companion, who loves him fervently, at arm's length.
About the Author
Panos Karnezis was born in Greece and came to the UK in 1992, where he worked in industry before starting to write. He is the author of four novels—The Maze (shortlisted for the Whitbread First Novel Award), The Birthday Party, The Convent and The Fugitives, and a collection of stories, Little Infamies. His work is translated into several languages. His novel We are Made of Earth is published by Myriad in September 2019.
Industry Reviews
'The literary find of the year.' - Annie Proulx; 'Exploring sin, guilt and atonement, this dazzling study of displaced lives has the universalising succinctness, moral complexity and ironic force of the greatest novellas. Disaster looms in the seed of every phrase-and yet its tone is neutral, distanced, and the dark narrative is spellbinding.' - The Guardian; 'Karnezis' story stirs the emotion, the anger and sadness, and empathy for refugees. He has a way of telling a story that feels grounded and flighty at the same time, not exactly surreal but just a little bit off kilter, both entertaining and hard hitting. Melancholic, loaded with pathos this is a gripping read, perhaps it is also an important one.' - NB Magazine, 4/4 stars; 'Visceral, heartbreaking stuff... realistic and thoughtful.' - The Observer; 'Panos Karnezis is possibly the leading Greek novelist of his generation, and one of Europe's most distinguished storytellers... In We are Made of Earth he takes us, perhaps irresistibly, to the current refugee crisis [and] examines with both love and cruelty his characters' attitudes to fate. He is both a sensitive and an honest observer. This is a fine addition to Karnezis's already impressive list.' - Richard Pine, Irish Times; 'This is a challenging, insightful and melancholic book with well-drawn characters who were not hugely likeable, but I was left reflecting on their often-questionable behaviour. It's empathetic: the characters do the things they do for survival, connection and out of longing. A timeless, relevant story about displacement, loneliness and moral dilemmas.' - Silver Linings and Pages, Bookstagrammer; 'We Are Made of Earth is heartbreaking and deeply poignant but definitely not the expected narrative of the refugee crisis that you might have become accustomed to hearing about. In the news, a lot of focus is given to faceless statistics and the physical journey but only Karnezis writes about the inner compass of an individual with nothing to lose but everything to gain.' - The Candid Book Club, Bookstagrammer; 'A novelist of unusual gifts.' - Financial Times; 'Karnezis' story stirs the emotion, the anger and sadness, and empathy for refugees. He has a way of telling a story that feels grounded and flighty at the same time, not exactly surreal but just a little bit off kilter, both entertaining and hard hitting. Melancholic, loaded with pathos, this is a gripping read. It is also an important one.' - Paul Burke, NB magazine, 4/4 stars; 'An entirely individual writer in full command of his material.' - Sunday Times; 'The mad beauty of Karnezis's imagination is entirely his own.' - The Guardian; 'Karnezis's great skill is in evoking the haunting beauty of lost places and souls.' - The Times; 'A masterful storyteller.' - The Independent; 'Karnezis' writing has intensity and directness as he takes on the relationships between humans and their gods.' - Kate Saunders, The Times; Gripping and worldly-wise... a novelist who is already well-respected but deserves to be better known.' - Phil Baker, Sunday Times; 'Written in simple, uninflected prose, this short fifth novel from Greek-born Karnezis packs a punch. Switching efficiently between perspectives, Karnezis creates a web of painful ironies, misunderstandings and moral dilemmas. All the while, he emphasises the fragility of human bonds and the persuasive fictions we spin for ourselves.' - Stephanie Cross, Daily Mail
