Boxer, Beetle by Ned Beauman

Posted on | August 7, 2010 | 11 Comments

“This is a novel for people with breeding” is the self-proclaiming tag-line for the novel Boxer, Beetle by Ned Beauman, son of Nicola Beauman of Persephone Books. It is an astonishingly accomplished debut that is highly erudite and original. Boxer, Beetle is intelligent and witty and one of the best debut novels I have read; I read a proof copy in April of this year and the novel is fresh in my mind, distinctive and memorable.

Published this week (in the UK by Sceptre and available to buy in his mother’s shop) Boxer, Beetle alternates between the present and the 1930s during the rise of Nazism and Fascism. The 1930s is my favourite period to read about but I found myself equally invested in the present-day narrative and enjoyed the voice of first-person narrator, Kevin (or “Fishy”). Kevin suffers from a rare condition, trimethylaminuria, the inability to break down the chemical trimethylamine, that gives off a strong fishy odour from the body; this is not an arbitrary disorder but one that Beauman watched a documentary about and was inspired to include in this novel. Kevin is something of a hermit due to his unsavouriness and corrosive attributes to the nasal membranes -trimethylamine in high concentrations smells more like ammonia than fish- and spends his time collecting Nazi memorabilia. In the 1934-36 narrative strain Seth Roach (or, “Sinner”) is a five-foot tall, nine-toed Jewish boxer who attracts the interest of Philip Erskine, a scientist studying Eugenics and beetles.

Erskine has made a shocking entomological discovery that prompts a letter from Adolf Hitler (which can be read here) and the central mystery of the book; Erskine’s discovery through Lemniscate breeding of a super-strain of beetle is the crux of the novel and the convergence of the present-day and past narratives.

Ned Beauman may not thank me for the comparison but his proficiency at depicting despicable characters reminded me of Martin Amis. I enjoy characters that I can deplore and there is much to censure in the cast of Boxer, Beetle although they are so well-drawn that I found myself sympathising with some, Kevin especially. In Boxer, Beetle there is an arresting opening line and clever use of cultural and literary allusion, complete with a dream reversal of Kafka’s The Metamorphosis and inclusion of himself as online forum user nbeauman, in homage to The New York Trilogy by Paul Auster. Beauman also included what he knew of East London and the London Library amongst the bold ideas imaginatively removed from real-life and an impressive amount of historical research.

Boxer, Beetle is not for the faint-hearted with graphic sex scenes, strong language and a lot of beetles. I did not take the warning of “there are lots of beetles” to heart and wish I had when I read the closing pages late one night. Consider yourself warned: beetles aside, this is an intelligent, funny and engaging book.

Lija of Writer’s Pet has interviewed Ned Beauman and is hosting a give-away of a signed copy of Boxer, Beetle on her blog.

Comments

11 Responses to “Boxer, Beetle by Ned Beauman”

Jackie (Farm Lane Books)
August 7th, 2010 @ 2:10 pm

I have a copy of this and am intrigued by it. I didn’t realise it had so many references to real beetles!

I haven’t read any Paul Auster. Do you think I should read some to fully appreciate this book?
softdrink
August 7th, 2010 @ 3:05 pm

The cover alone is enough to creep me out!
Lija
August 7th, 2010 @ 5:47 pm

Great write-up, Claire. You really captured the energy that makes this book stand out.

Jackie, I haven’t read The New York Trilogy (although I want to), and don’t particularly think it impeded my reading of Boxer, Beetle. As you’ll see in my interview, there are so many illusions in the book that it’s probably not necessary to be familiar with all of them. It’s enjoyable either way.
Simon (Savidge Reads)
August 8th, 2010 @ 12:02 pm

I picked this up the other day and liked it but wasnt in the right mind frame (I seem to only want to read crime for some reason, cosy and gory) but will definitley give it a whirl again. I think might be good between TGCP submissions.

Its interesting you mention who his mother is, I always think having your parents in the industry and being published means people are anti the book before they have even read a page, so its good to see its a good book full stop.
Paperback Reader
August 8th, 2010 @ 12:25 pm

Jackie, beetles are central to the plot! I didn’t realise though that they would appear in abundance until they did.

As Lija says, reading Auster is definitely not essential and it is merely a clever nod to The New York Trilogy, not crucial to the book in any way.

Jill, the cover is creepy! Luckily my proof copy had the beetle on the back so I didn’t see it all that often.

Lija, thank you; the novel really does stand-out and is exceptionally good.

Simon, I hope that you enjoy it when you are in the mood to resume.

I asked Ned Beauman when I met him whether he minded it being known who his mother was (and not only she but his talented writing family) and he has been open to having that relationship known; he would welcome even a portion of the success of Nicola and Persephone Books but will do so on his own merits and exceptional writing.
I made it known in this post because I know that many of my readers are Persephone Books devotees and just may pick up this book due to that alone.
Darlene
August 8th, 2010 @ 1:02 pm

Full marks to Ned for coming up with a unique plot and cast of characters! On the surface this doesn’t appear to be my kind of book but I must admit…it sounds quirky enough to make me curious.
Simon (Savidge Reads)
August 8th, 2010 @ 2:17 pm

Oh I didn’t mean you shouldn’t have written it, I meant it brought up that interesting question. It happened with Rebecca Miller, that was all I meant.

If I had a book out and had any links/stories/contacts etc that might shift copies I would go for it, its a hard market. I meant more its sad that he might.
Desperate Reader
August 8th, 2010 @ 4:19 pm

Simon makes an interesting point about people being anti the book before even opening it, I have to admit feeling a bit put off by the connection.

I don’t imagine it got into print because of who his mother is, but I’m not sure how I feel about her selling, as in activley promoting, a book that sounds far removed from the normal Persephone remit through the Persephone shop, and through the good will attached to the Persephone name.

On the other hand it would be foolish not to make the most of any oppertunity for publicity and if the quality’s there that’s what matters.
Emily
August 8th, 2010 @ 10:49 pm

Hmm, I’m intrigued by this…although slightly nervous about the vast quantities of beetles involved! Like you, I’m drawn to novels and nonfiction set in the 1930s, so may have to give this a go.
Lija
August 10th, 2010 @ 7:11 pm

Oops, that should have been “makes so many ALLUSIONS in the book” (hangs head in shame). I realize that this does not further the literary conversation at all, but I couldn’t help myself.
The Guardian First Book Award 2010 Long List – Farm Lane Books Blog
September 22nd, 2010 @ 9:58 am

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