Benjamin Myers – Offene See – The Offing – Offene See – The Offing

Picture © Kevin McGonnell

The Book

»This quiet, lyrical novel confirms a powerful new voice« (The Times)

One summer following the Second World War, Robert Appleyard sets out on foot from his Durham village. Sixteen and the son of a coal miner, he makes his way across the northern countryside until he reaches the former smuggling village of Robin Hood’s Bay. There he meets Dulcie, an eccentric, worldly, older woman who lives in a ramshackle cottage facing out to sea.

Staying with Dulcie, Robert’s life opens into one of rich food, sea-swimming, sunburn and poetry. The two come from different worlds, yet as the summer months pass, they form an unlikely friendship that will profoundly alter their futures.

The Author:

Benjamin Myers was born in Durham in 1976. His novel The Gallows Pole received a Roger Deakin Award and won the Walter Scott Prize for historical fiction. Beastings won the Portico Prize for Literature and Pig Iron won the Gordon Burn Prize, while Richard was a Sunday Times Book of the Year. He has also published poetry, crime novels and short fiction, while his journalism has appeared in publications including, among others, the Guardian, New Statesman, Caught by the River and New Scientist.
He lives in the Upper Calder Valley, West Yorkshire.

Beautiful house in rural countryside setting

The Project

With the reading project #ThePassionWeShare we’d like to read one of the most beautiful novels of the year together – and with the manner of reading and the exchange, we want to show our passion for literature connects us through language barriers and across borders.

Benjamin Myers is also convinced of this, and has said the following about his novel »The Offing«:

»This story was written on the east coast of England, looking out across the water to the west coast of Germany. It is, I hope, a story about the only things that really matter in the long-term […] And perhaps ultimately it is a story about bridging the gaps that exist between us all – as people, and as countries.«

That’s exactly what we want to follow up on, by reading and discussing »The Offing« in British-German tandems. Primarily among ourselves and not publicly. As a part of this project you can apply for reading copies of the book or participate with your own copy.

Apart from a unique reading experience and a new literary acquaintance, participants can win great prizes.

All British participants have a chance to win:

– Three surprise book packages, with an exciting selection of British titles

Participate

You can send your application through the form on this page from April 9^thonwards until April 26^th, 2020.

From April 28^th, 2020, you will be informed about your participation status and, should you have been drawn, will receive your tandem partner’s information, as well as the book.

The joint reading process and the accompanying exchange will cover the period from May 8^th until May 24^th.

Let us partake:

Please send us a picture once you’ve received the book. The picture can be just of the book or of you holding the book – whatever you prefer. On the page “This is how you read”, we’d like to compile as many impressions as possible and document the story of connected reading.

If you allow, we’d like to publish your name and/or your blog or Instagram with the picture.

Furthermore, we’d be happy if you sent us a short impression when you’re halfway, as well as your final verdict in the end. In both cases we’d also be happy about a picture to go with it.

You can just send your pictures and texts via e-mail to torsten.woywod@dumont.de . Alternatively, you can send us everything in an Instagram direct message.

We will also publish a selection of your submissions. Everything else will stay between you and your tandem partner.

Of course, you can send us a lot more, or even involve social media channels in your reading process. Our hashtag for this campaign is:

#ThePassionWeShare

This is how you read

Here, we will compile your pictures, impressions and opinions.
Please send us your reading impressions, questions and reviews via e-mail to: torsten.woywod@dumont.de . Alternatively, you can send us everything in an Instagram direct message.

Of course, you can send us a lot more, or even involve social media channels in your reading process. Our hashtag for this campaign is:

#ThePassionWeShare

The Instagram accounts of the participating publishers:
@dumontbuchverlag @bloomsburypublishing

The author Benjamin Myers is active on Instagram too:
@benmyers76