Book description
A sensational tale of obsession and murder from a wonderful writer. 'An
outstanding novel, fresh and unusual [with] all the dirt, stink, rasp
and flavour of the time.' Daily Telegraph
'Early in the English Civil War, a body is dredged from the pond of a
Royalist estate. “As Meat Loves Salt” is the testament of Jacob Cullen -
homicide and fugitive. Obsessed with the graceful Christopher Ferris, he
follows him to become a London printer, a Digger and, finally, an
emigrant to the New World…An electrifying erotic thriller, rich in
secrets and surprises.' Independent 'A fat, juicy masterpiece. Jacob,
who destroys what he loves with the rapacity of his desire, is as
compelling as he is appalling…Most impressively, the writing here is
flawless. These pages flow like claret.' Economist
'A novel teeming with life…a triumphant piece of historical evocation.
McCann's unflinching descriptions of battle are matched by the power of
her depiction of London in all its fetid splendour. And in the character
of Jacob himself, a strong but selfish man weakened by a violent temper
and haunted by guilty dreams, McCann shows the imaginative empathy that
is the hallmark of a true novelist.' Vogue
'A true delight, vivid, well written and, best of all, accessible…Maria
McCann's characters leap off the page and speak in contemporary voices
that entirely convince.' Daily Express
'An intriguing and disturbing first novel which lingers in the
mind…Tense with anguish, intimacy and shame, it imaginatively re-creates
the mentality of a society racked by war and intoxicated by radical new
ideas of freedom and change.' TLS Maria McCann was born in Liverpool
in 1956 and spent most of her childhood there devouring novels at every
opportunity. She read English at the University of Durham and then
embarked on a series of jobs including Citizens' Advice, telephonist,
artist's model and EFL teacher. Since 1988 she has been a Lecturer in
English at a Somerset college. An Arvon course gave her the confidence
to write after years of 'scribbling' and she later read for an MA in
Writing at the University of Glamorgan. She loves plays, gin, dancing
and dogs. This is her first novel.
