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May 5, 2026
The Given World by Melissa Harrison review
Eerie omens haunt this absorbing group portrait set over six months in an English village
TL;DR
- The novel "The Given World" by Melissa Harrison examines the interconnected lives of villagers over a six-month period.
- Set in an imminent future where seasons are disrupted, the story focuses on a river valley village and its inhabitants.
- Key characters include Connor, a young man musing on his place in the world; Clare, whose dying time frames the narrative; and other villagers like Saj the postman and Roy the builder.
- The book addresses themes of ecological crisis, mortality, and the often-unseen realities of rural life, moving away from sentimental portrayals.
- Harrison employs a communal narrative form, giving weight to many lives and personal idioms to create a composite, impersonal voice.
- The novel touches on ancient lores, superstitions, and the uncanny effects of environmental change, drawing parallels between individual endings and the world's ecological state.