Umbrella
(Autor) Will SelfRecently having abandoned his R.D. Laing-influenced experiment in running a therapeutic community -- the so-called Concept House in Willesden -- maverick psychiatrist Zack Busner arrives at Friern Hospital, a vast Victorian mental asylum in North London, under a professional and marital cloud. He has every intention of avoiding controversy, but then he encounters Audrey Death, a working-class girl from Fulham born in 1890 who has been immured in Friern for decades. A socialist, a feminist and a munitions worker at the Woolwich Arsenal, Audrey fell victim to the encephalitis lethargica sleeping sickness epidemic at the end of the First World War and has been in a coma ever since. Realising that Audrey is just one of a number of post-encephalitics scattered throughout the asylum, Busner becomes involved in an attempt to bring them back to life -- with wholly unforeseen consequences.
Will Self
Will Self is a British author known for his darkly comic and satirical novels that often explore themes of addiction, mental illness, and modern society. Some of his most notable works include "Cock and Bull," "My Idea of Fun," and "Umbrella." Self's writing style is characterized by his use of complex language, inventive wordplay, and experimental narrative techniques.
Self's contributions to literature include pushing the boundaries of conventional storytelling and challenging readers to think critically about the world around them. His work has had a significant impact on the literary genre of contemporary fiction, inspiring other writers to take risks and explore unconventional narrative structures.
One of Self's most famous works is "Umbrella," a novel that received critical acclaim for its innovative use of stream-of-consciousness writing and its exploration of the effects of mental illness on a family. Will Self continues to be a prominent voice in contemporary literature, pushing the boundaries of storytelling and challenging readers to see the world in new and unexpected ways.
Other related
