Exclusive Goon Squad extract published

14 Mar 2011

Online Arts Journal the Manchester Review is this afternoon publishing an exclusive extract from Jennifer Egan's award-winning novel ‘A Visit from the Goon Squad’.

The Novel, acclaimed in the USA but not yet published in the UK, is a hard-hitting comedy that follows the fortunes of a US punk rocker turned record producer.

The Manchester Review is published by The University of Manchester’s Centre for New Writing, soon to be home of Professor of Creative Writing Colm Toibin – who starts in the Autumn. It goes live at 12 noon today (14 March)

A Visit from the Goon Squad won National Book Critics Circle Award in the United States last year.

Co-Director of the Centre Dr Ian McGuire said: "Jonathan Franzen's ‘Freedom’ was the American novel that received all the hype last year, but Jennifer Egan's ‘A Visit from the Goon Squad’ is better by a mile.

“It's funnier, more sophisticated and better written. In fact its pretty much everything a contemporary novel should be.

“She richly deserves the NBCC award, and if there is any justice in the British book world "Goon Squad" will be a huge hit when it comes out over here. We feel privileged to be able to publish this exclusive extract."

The Manchester Review appears each spring and autumn offering a mix of new music, public debate, visual art and video as well as fiction and poetry.

This months’ edition also contains exclusive extract from "Edgelands" by Paul Farley and Michael Symmons Roberts -- a brilliant new study of the overlooked places between city and country.

There will also be brand new voices in fiction and poetry -- Manchester graduate Rebecca Perry, new Irish poet Kevin Cahill, and Robert Smith, a young American short story writer whose story "Slash" combines, sadness, sex and sudden acts of violence.

Co Director John McAuliffe said: "The Manchester Review takes its cue from the proactive promotion of new writing, but uses online media to show and sponsor the interplay of poetry, fiction, music, visual art and essays by new and established practitioners.”

"It is already finding new readers and audiences for exciting and innovative creative work, which is steeped in traditional virtues.”