{"product_id":"9781906413224-the-celibate","title":"The Celibate","description":"\u003cmeta content=\"text\/html; charset=utf-8\" http-equiv=\"Content-Type\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cb\u003eThe first published novel by the award-winning, bestselling and acclaimed Michael Arditti\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eThe first published novel by the award-winning, bestselling and acclaimed Michael Arditti\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e'It is unusual to find an English first novel of such unflinching moral seriousness . a varied and involving read' \u003ci\u003eGregory Woods, Times Literary Supplement\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e'An exceptional book - at its core it combines the sexual with the spiritual'\u003ci\u003e Sunday Times\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e'An ambitious first novel, which traces the liberation of a human  soul through a gradual revelation of the meaning of passion and the  Passion'\u003ci\u003e Candia McWilliam, Independent on Sunday\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Celibate \u003c\/i\u003eis  the story of a young man with a mind full of God, but a heart closed to  love. While studying at the theological college, he is confused by his  feelings for a fellow ordinand and suffers a nervous collapse at the  altar. His college principal sends him on a placement to London, where  he enters an unfamiliar world of outcasts, down-and-outs, rent boys and  religious fundamentalists.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIn increasing despair, he embarks on a journey through the world of  Jack the Ripper, the devastation of the Great Plague and the mysteries  of his own family. As the past and present come full circle, he finally  understands the true meaning of Passion.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis is an intelligent and emotive novel, potent with atmosphere and rich in ideas and insights. It employs a unique fictional structure which integrates the contemporary and the historical, the personal and the theological, the comic and the polemic in a revelatory way. On its initial publication, it was hailed as the debut of a major literary talent.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Rarewaves","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":40945898291297,"sku":"9781906413224","price":4.48,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0092\/7504\/8033\/files\/orig_27345144.jpg?v=1721724229","url":"https:\/\/www.rarewaves.com\/products\/9781906413224-the-celibate","provider":"Rarewaves.com","version":"1.0","type":"link"}