TOP 20 BOOK SENSE FEBRUARY PICK
BARNES & NOBLE DISCOVER GREAT NEW WRITERS
BORDERS ORIGINAL VOICES

“We now owe another debt to Shakespeare, and one to Haig, for re-imagining a tragic masterpiece with such wit, force and—yes—originality.” —Kirkus (Starred Review)

“Philip is a breathless storyteller who seldom stops for punctuation but whose honesty and innocence, which shine from every sentence, are utterly captivating and heartbreakingly poignant. The result is an absolutely irresistible read.” —Booklist (Starred Review)

“The plucky hero impressively navigates the gloomy, pungent waters of retribution, death and guilt, and Haig gives an enviable job of leavening a sad premise through the words and actions of a charming, resilient young man.” —Publishers Weekly (Starred Review)

“Totally engrossing.” —Stephen Daldry director of The Hours and Billy Elliott

THE DEAD FATHERS CLUB (Viking; On-Sale Date: February 5, 2007; Pages: 314; Price: $23.95), a modern and immensely enticing update of Hamlet, is an imaginative tale of grief and revenge that is Matt Haig’s American debut and one that is sure to establish him as a young writer to watch. Set in Newark, Britain, THE DEAD FATHERS CLUB follows the plight of narrator Philip Noble, a typical 11-year-old in every way but one: his father’s ghost appears explaining that he was murdered by his brother, Uncle Alan. It is now up to young Philip to avenge the death of his father, all the while trying to manage school, first love, bullies, and his own lack of self-confidence.

Told through the imaginative and compelling voice of Philip, THE DEAD FATHERS CLUB is both charming and witty, and readers will immediately relate to the endearing character of Philip. Not only must Philip deal with panic attacks and mandated meetings with a school counselor (the lovely Mrs. Fell), but when Uncle Alan makes clear his designs on his mother, a distraught and horrified Philip must decide how to avenge his father’s death and rectify the situation.

THE DEAD FATHERS CLUB is a poignant and original novel that deals with what it is like to be a child, rarely listened to or understood, but forced to handle complex concepts and feelings. Shakespeare aficionados and those who enjoy a darkly humorous tale will find Haig’s take on Hamlet an engaging read that explores not only the relationship between parents and children but also the age-old predicament of how to cope and live life after the death of a loved one.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Matt Haig is the author of The Last Family in England, a bestseller in the United Kingdom, and the forthcoming children’s book Samuel Blink and the Forbidden Forest. Haig’s writings have appeared in The Guardian, The Sunday Times, The Independent and The Sydney Morning Herald. He grew up in Newark-on-Trent, situated 10 miles from Sherwood Forest, and the setting for THE DEAD FATHERS CLUB. Matt Haig will be in the United States at the time of publication. Movie rights have been optioned by Harry Potter producer David Heyman..

THE DEAD FATHERS CLUB
By Matt Haig
Imprint: Viking
ISBN: 9780670038336
On-Sale Date: February 5, 2007
Price: $23.95
Pages: 314

Please visit our web site at http://us.penguingroup.com/ and www.matthaig.com.

Penguin Group (USA) Inc. is the U.S. member of the internationally renowned Penguin Group. Penguin Group (USA) is one of the leading U.S. adult and children’s trade book publishers, owning a wide range of imprints and trademarks, including Berkley Books, Dutton, Frederick Warne, G.P. Putnam’s Sons, Grosset & Dunlap, New American Library, Penguin, Philomel, Riverhead Books and Viking, among others. The Penguin Group is part of Pearson plc, the international media company.