WinneroftheHurston/WrightLegacyAwardforFictionOneofGranta’sBestYoungBritishNovelistsFromtheprizewinningyoungwriterofWhatIsNotYoursIsNotYours,Gingerbread,andPeacescomesabrilliantandinventivestoryoflove,lies,andinspiration.Fairy-taleromancesendwithawedding,andthefairytalesdon’tgetcomplicated.Inthisbook,thecelebratedwriterMr.Foxcan’tstophimselffromkillingofftheheroinesofhisnovels,andneithercanhiswife,Daphne.It’snotuntilMary,hismuse,comestolifeandtransformshimfromauthorintosubjectthathisstorybeginstounfolddifferently.MarychallengesMr.Foxtojoinherinstoriesoftheirowndevising;andindifferenttimesandplaces,thetwoofthemseekeachother,findeachother,thwarteachother,andtrytostaytogether,evenwhentherolestheyinhabitseemtoforbidit.Theiradventurestwistthefairytaleintoninevariations,explodingandteasingconventionsofgenreandromance,andeachiterationexploresthefearsthatcomewithacceptingalifelongbond.Meanwhile,Daphnebecomesconvincedthatherhusbandishavinganaffair,andfindsherwayintoMaryandMr.Fox’sgame.AndsoMr.Foxisofferedachoice:Willitbealifewiththegirlofhisdreams,oralifewithanall-too-realwomanwhodelightshimmorethanhecarestoadmit?TheextraordinarilygiftedHelenOyeyemihaswrittenalovestorylikenoother.Mr.Foxisamagicalbook,endlesslyinventive,aswittyandcharmingasitisprofoundinitstruthsabouthowwelearntobewithoneanother.
