Richard Craven’s satirical vision of modern decay.
Bristol, UK – Richard Craven’s The Bristolian Chronicles is an ambitious and darkly satirical series that reimagines Bristol as a decaying urban landscape, ripe for exploration through biting humour, nuanced social critique, and a rich tapestry of literary influences. Amoeba Dick and Pretty Poli, the first two novels in this series, delve into themes of identity, taste, corruption, ambition, and societal collapse, offering a uniquely absurd vision of contemporary life.
Amoeba Dick
In Amoeba Dick, the first novel in the Bristolian Chronicles, we follow Herod, a Bristolian gym manager, who embarks on an obsessive quest for vengeance after a hot tub infection results in his unmanning. Recruiting an eclectic band of characters, from corporate cynics to spiritual fraudsters, Herod’s pursuit of revenge becomes a chaotic journey through a city in moral and physical decay. Craven’s satirical touch creates a vivid, darkly comic world, blending sharp social critique with an irreverent narrative that draws inspiration from the grand themes of literary tradition.
Pretty Poli
In Pretty Poli, Craven tells the story of Hawksmoor Perroquet, a parrot whose rise and fall echoes the tragic arc of Hardy’s The Mayor of Casterbridge. Set in a decaying political system, Hawksmoor’s ascent and downfall is an exploration of the human condition in a fractured society. The novel’s unique blend of grotesquerie and biting political satire offers a dark yet humorous commentary on overweening ambition and the death of common decency.
The Literary World of The Bristolian Chronicles
Craven has crafted a world that is simultaneously absurd, darkly comic, and intellectually engaging. His use of literary tradition, intricate prose, and sharp humour creates a city that is both familiar and unsettling. Through his unique lens, Bristol becomes a symbol of the tensions between the decay of societal institutions and the persistence of human folly. Each novel in The Bristolian Chronicles adds depth to this world, building on Craven’s themes of identity, ambition, and the fragile nature of modern existence.
About the Author
Richard Craven, a British-Canadian former academic philosopher, has spent the last two decades in Bristol. His work is heavily influenced by his background in philosophy and literary tradition. With the Bristolian Chronicles, Craven presents a darkly satirical vision of modern life, blending absurd humour with literary sophistication. His debut novels are a fresh voice in contemporary British fiction, offering readers both intellectual depth and biting social commentary.
For more information, review copies, or interview requests, please contact:
Jacob Bettany
jacob@nicheclever.co.uk
Niche Clever