Matara

In an imaginary republic every citizen drills for war, whatever their family or fortune, and savage tribes from legend lurk past the frontier. A small boy is trained as a scout by his big brother; sneaking out, they stumble on an enemy encampment, and fighting looms, though at nightfall all return to sleep in the old school building. The republic is a summer game of boys. Its senators conspire wrapped in bedsheets and marry dolls, soot-moustached urchins riot at a lighthouse fair, and a hit from a toy sword is fatal for good. Outsiders get no mercy. In woods loud with June birds, cruelty and affection among the boys make the play feel at times like the real world.

AI-generated summary

About the book

Form

Novel

Length

307 pages in the original

Genres

Coming of age (assigned by AI)

First published

2021 by Teos

Author's age

32 when first published

ISBN

9789523631458 (original)