'A beautiful and bold debut' M.J. Hyland, author of the Man Booker-shortlisted Carry Me Down

A funny, subversive and poignant debut novel from an exciting new writer.

When Mirka gets a job in a country house in rural England, she has no idea of the struggle she faces to make sense of a very English couple. Richard and Sophie are chaotic, drunken, frequently outrageous but also warm, generous and kind to Mirka.

Swiftly commandeered by Richard for his latest money-making enterprise, taxidermy, Mirka soon surpasses him in skill. After a traumatic break two years ago with her family in Slovakia, she finds to her surprise that she is happy at Fairmont Hall. But when she feels herself falling for Sophie, everything she values is put in danger and she must learn the hard way what she really believes in.


'Its wit and perceptiveness about a certain kind of English life make it a joy to read' Amanda Craig
'A beautiful and bold debut' M.J. Hyland

'An important novel in an uncertain time' Sara Novic

'[A] wry and knowing debut' Stylist

'[A] confident novel that engages with love, belonging, prejudice and, above all, quintessential Englishness' Daily Mail


[thumbnail of author photo on Biblio; credit Charlie Hopkinson]

'A joy to read' Amanda Craig

'Shades of Cold Comfort Farm...Charming' Guardian

English Animals is a subversive, wry debut that fans of Marina Lewycka's A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian will love.


When Mirka gets a job in a country house in rural England, she has no idea of the struggle she faces to make sense of a very English couple, and a way of life that is entirely alien to her. Richard and Sophie are chaotic, drunken, frequently outrageous but also warm, generous and kind to Mirka, despite their argumentative and turbulent marriage.

Mirka is swiftly commandeered by Richard for his latest money-making enterprise, taxidermy, and soon surpasses him in skill. After a traumatic break two years ago with her family in Slovakia, Mirka finds to her surprise that she is happy at Fairmont Hall. But when she tells Sophie that she is gay, everything she values is put in danger and she must learn the hard way what she really believes in.