Grits (novel)

Grits
	First edition
Author	Niall Griffiths
Cover artist	Matt Smith/PYMCA
Language	English
Publisher	Jonathan Cape
Publication date	Feb 2000
Publication place	United Kingdom
Media type	Print (paperback)
Pages	481
ISBN	0-224-05996-3
Followed by	Sheepshagger

Grits is the debut novel by British author Niall Griffiths, published in 2000 by Jonathan Cape. Set in and around Aberystwyth and concerning promiscuity, drugs, alcohol, and petty crime^[1] it gained for its author, who lives and works in the town^[2] the dubious honorific "the Welsh Irvine Welsh".^[3] The novel is largely autobiographical, Griffiths moved to Aberystwyth to research a PhD in post-war British poetry but soon became, as he puts it, an "enthusiastic participator in parties"^[4] and dropped out of his studies.^[5]

Ianto, a character briefly appearing in Grits became the anti-hero of Griffith's second novel Sheepshagger.^[3]

Reception

From the rear of the 2001 Vintage Books edition :

"When it comes to kick starting the literary millennium, Grits - difficult, disturbing and unforgettable - may well be the book to back" - Independent
"Griffiths is undoubtedly a writer of talent. In the breadth of his huge, pulsing first novel, he captures the tedium of a life lived from one fix to the next" - Observer
"If you liked Irvine Welsh's Trainspotting you'll love Grits" - Daily Express

References

^ Rear cover, 2001 Vintage Books edition, ISBN 0-09-9285177
^ "Niall Griffiths | British Council Literature". Archived from the original on 8 March 2014. Retrieved 28 March 2014.
^ ^a ^b Last exit to Aberystwyth Archived 3 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine, The Guardian, Saturday 3 February 2001
^ "Nee, Laura. "Grits". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 23 June 2008". Archived from the original on 7 April 2014. Retrieved 29 March 2014.
^ "Retrieved 2014-03-28". Archived from the original on 7 April 2014. Retrieved 29 March 2014.

External links

book club reviews from The Listener

This article about an autobiographical novel of the 2000s is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

[1] Rear cover, 2001 Vintage Books edition, ISBN 0-09-9285177

[2] "Niall Griffiths | British Council Literature". Archived from the original on 8 March 2014. Retrieved 28 March 2014.

[guardian-3] Last exit to Aberystwyth Archived 3 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine, The Guardian, Saturday 3 February 2001

[4] "Nee, Laura. "Grits". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 23 June 2008". Archived from the original on 7 April 2014. Retrieved 29 March 2014.

[5] "Retrieved 2014-03-28". Archived from the original on 7 April 2014. Retrieved 29 March 2014.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]