The Restraint Of Beasts by Magnus Mills
A Comedic Novel of Construction and Destruction
This darkly comic novel follows the misadventures of an unnamed English foreman tasked with supervising two Scottish fence builders, Tam and Richie, in rural England. The trio's mundane job of erecting high-tension fences takes a series of bizarre and increasingly grim turns, leading them on a journey across the British countryside and eventually to mainland Europe. The narrative is marked by the author's minimalist style, blending deadpan humor with an undercurrent of menace, as the mundane reality of manual labor collides with surreal and unsettling events. The story explores themes of freedom, the absurdity of modern life, and the thin veneer of civilization that masks humanity's darker impulses.
The 6361st greatest book of all time
- Published
- 1998
- Nationality
- British
- Length
- Short
- Pages
- 224
- Original Language
- English
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- Alternate Titles
- None
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This book is on the following 2 lists:
- 5801st on Our Users' Honorable Mention Favorite Books of All Time (The Greatest Books Users)
- 1000 Novels Everyone Must Read (The Guardian)