Ben Miller just published his first novel. I know Ben for his nonfiction, he writes stunning memoirs, so the publication of this work of fiction took me by pleasant surprise.
During this interview Miller talked about how this book was a work in progress for many years. He described a relentless cycle: deciding to submit it again for publication, the rejections, then he would go right back to rewriting it again.
In this story the New Glory flag flutters disconsolately over the never ending Parade. Tove, our narrator, has had enough, he doesn't want to march anymore. But you cannot just quit this monotonous spectacle of
blind loyalty and moral decay. Miller has imagined a world where rah rah patriotism is all that matters and the continuous cascade of lies from the leaders is never doubted by the lemming-like adherents of the New Glory cult. Scathing, scalding, it couldn't happen here, right?
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