THE DOG MEOWS, THE CAT BARKS by Eka Kurniawan

Sato Reang’s childhood in a small Javanese town is full of laughter, mischief and freedom – until the day his father declares it is time to become pious. Circumcision is just the beginning of a life hemmed in by ritual and obedience.

But Sato is no meek disciple. He dreams of wickedness, he rebels in secret, and delights in the chaos of small sins. He eats with the wrong hand, skips prayers and finds joy in mocking the rules meant to shape him. Yet rebellion is never without consequence and when Sato dares to pull others into his orbit, innocence collides with vengeance in ways he could never have foreseen.

By turns darkly funny and devastating, The Dog Meows, The Cat Barks is Eka Kurniawan at his sharpest – a bold tale of faith, defiance and the dangerous pleasures of freedom.

Praise for The Dog Meows, The Cat Barks

‘Brims with humour and heart’ Publishers Weekly, USA

‘A memorable look into a delinquent mind, one with little hope for any future other than hell.’ Kirkus, USA (starred review)

‘Southeast Asia’s most ambitious writer in a generation.’ The Economist, UK

‘Mischief and the wild side of childhood.’ Jawa Pos, Indonesia

‘Eka returns with a gripping work of fiction.’ Media Indonesia

‘One of Indonesia’s most celebrated authors.’ Los Angeles Times, USA

About the author

Eka Kurniawan (b. 1975, Tasikmalaya, West Java) is an acclaimed Indonesian novelist, short story writer, essayist, screenwriter and graphic novelist. He studied philosophy at Universitas Gadjah Mada in Yogyakarta, and his work draws on his early life in small towns and the rich cultural tapestry of Indonesia. His fiction is known for blending realism with magical realism, using vivid imagery, dark humour and incisive explorations of social and moral tensions. His novels Man Tiger and Beauty is a Wound were both longlisted for the International Booker Prize and have been translated into dozens of languages.

Paperback 9781915310606
Ebook 9781915310613
Extent to come
Category Fiction