DigeeBooks

Liberty fabric covered editions bring classics from the Faber backlist together with important modern titles, putting them in conversation and celebrating both the history and the future of Faber & Faber.

In this unnamed city, to be interesting is dangerous. Middle sister, our protagonist, is busy attempting to keep her mother from discovering her maybe-boyfriend and to keep everyone in the dark about her encounter with Milkman. But when first brother-in-law sniffs out her struggle, and rumours start to swell, middle sister becomes 'interesting'. The last thing she ever wanted to be. To be interesting is to be noticed and to be noticed is dangerous.

Milkman is a tale of gossip and hearsay, silence and deliberate deafness. It is the story of inaction with enormous consequences.

In 2019, Milkman, winner of the 2018 Man Booker Prize, will be reissued with a bespoke Liberty fabric cover, created uniquely for Anna Burns; Sylvia Plath's The Bell Jar will be reissued as a hardback featuring a Liberty fabric from the year of the novel's first publication (1963).

ABOUT THE FABRICLiberty Open Call 2019 winner Duncan Grant's Small Town print is one of his series of 'smalltown' ink designs, drawing inspiration from the homes and billowing chimneys of Grant's childhood in Gravesend. Born out of a doodling style, the design features a world that is by turns childlike, slightly abstract and colourfully simplified

Milkman: A Haunting Tale of Tension and Transformation

In the captivating novel "Milkman" by Anna Burns, we are transported to an unnamed city during the Troubles in Northern Ireland. The protagonist, an unnamed young woman, finds herself caught in a web of intrigue and danger as she is pursued by a mysterious figure known only as the Milkman. With her vivid prose and keen eye for detail, Burns paints a poignant portrayal of a society riven by conflict and the resilience of the human spirit in the face of adversity.

The novel opens with the young woman recounting her encounters with the Milkman, a figure who seems to possess an uncanny ability to manipulate and control those around him. As the Milkman's presence becomes increasingly menacing, the protagonist finds herself isolated and alone, unsure of whom she can trust.

Yet, despite the oppressive atmosphere of fear and paranoia, the young woman refuses to succumb to despair. She embarks on a quest for self-discovery and liberation, navigating the treacherous landscape of her divided city with resilience and determination. Along the way, she encounters a cast of unforgettable characters, each with their own unique stories and struggles.

"Milkman" is a powerful and thought-provoking exploration of the impact of political conflict on the lives of ordinary people. Burns' writing is both lyrical and unsettling, capturing the complexities of human relationships and the enduring power of hope in the face of adversity.

Through the eyes of its unnamed protagonist, "Milkman" offers a unique perspective on the Troubles, delving into the personal and psychological toll of living in a society ravaged by violence and division. Burns' novel is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and a powerful reminder of the importance of empathy and understanding in times of conflict.