MATT HAIG’S ‘THE HUMANS’ CHOSEN FOR CITY READS 2015, BRIGHTON & HOVE
One city. One book. A thousand conversations…
‘Don’t usually do this, but what a fantastically funny and brilliant read: @matthaig is astounding, try #TheHumans.’
Stephen Fry (via Twitter)
‘One wet Friday evening, Professor Andrew Martin of Cambridge University solves the world’s greatest mathematical riddle. Then he disappears. When he is found walking naked along the motorway, Professor Martin seems different. Besides the lack of clothes, he now finds normal life pointless. His loving wife and teenage son seem repulsive to him. In fact, he hates everyone on the planet. Everyone, that is, except Newton. And he’s a dog…..’
“I am overjoyed to have The Humans chosen as this year’s City Reads title. I originally wrote the book as a kind of advert for the human race, and I wanted it to be a story that as many people as possible could enjoy. It was a very personal book for me, and I really hope you like it.”
Matt Haig
CITY READS CELEBRATES ITS 10TH ANNIVERSARY
2015 marks the 10th anniversary of City Reads and makes it the longest running ‘big read’ in the UK. Delivered by award winning literary organisation Collected Works CIC, the CITY READS festival is an annual ‘big read’ conceived to spread a love of books and ideas to the widest possible audience throughout Brighton & Hove, with a healthy reach into the South East region.
Artistic Director, Sarah Hutchings explains how proud she is that CITY READS has such a special book to help celebrate its 10th birthday:
‘It all started in 2005, with Alice in Wonderland. I was working at Brighton Festival as a literature programmer and was approached by Penguin Books who asked me if I thought a ‘big read’ would work in Brighton. I said ‘yes’ without hesitation and City Reads was born… I was taken aback at how quickly and enthusiastically Brighton & Hove took to the idea. This year’s choice is a life changer; The Humans is funny, sad and profound - the City is going to love it.’
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE 2015 EVENTS PROGRAMME
ABOUT MATT HAIG
Born in 1975 in Sheffield, Matt Haig has since lived in Nottinghamshire, Ibiza and London. He studied English and History at Hull University and completed an MA at Leeds. In 2009, he won the Yorkshire Young Achievers ‘Achievement in the Arts’ Award. He has written novels, screenplays, children’s books and journalism. His fiction has now now been translated in 29 languages.
‘A literary virtuoso… Matt Haig is a supreme talent and a writer to cherish, and The Humans is undoubtedly his magnum opus.’
The Guardian
