The Cat and The City: 'Vibrant and accomplished' David Mitchell by Nick Bradley (A BBC Radio 2 Book Club Pick)

A stray cat dances through Tokyo, connecting a group of apparent strangers, in this inventive literary debut.

In Tokyo - one of the world's largest megacities - a stray cat is wending her way through the back alleys. And, with each detour, she brushes up against the seemingly disparate lives of the city-dwellers, connecting them in unexpected ways.

But the city is changing. As it does, it pushes her to the margins where she chances upon a series of apparent strangers - from a homeless man squatting in an abandoned hotel, to a shut-in hermit afraid to leave his house, to a convenience store worker searching for love. The cat orbits Tokyo's denizens, drawing them ever closer.

Reviews

One of the Independent's best debuts

Longlisted for the DUBLIN LITERARY AWARD, 2021

'Nick Bradley's ingenious choreography of a constantly moving city, is touching, surprising and sometimes heartbreaking.' Guardian

'Masterfully weaves together seemingly disparate threads to conjure up a vivid tapestry of Tokyo; its glory, its shame, its characters, and a calico cat.' David Peace, author of THE TOKYO TRILOGY

'A love letter to Japan and its literature' Rowan Hisayo Buchanan

'An ideal tonic for anyone craving far-flung adventure' Mail on Sunday

'If you're itching to read a new novel by David Mitchell...try this' The Times

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Atlantic Books; Main edition (6 May 2021)

Language ‏ : ‎ English

Paperback ‏ : ‎ 304 pages

ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1786499916

ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1786499912

Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 12.7 x 2.29 x 19.69 cm

Customer reviews: 4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars    1,397 ratings

About the Author

Nick Bradley is a graduate of the UEA Creative Writing MA who is currently completing a PhD in Creative & Critical Writing, focussing on the figure of the cat in Japanese literature.