Clade (James Bradley, Hamish Hamilton)

In his first novel in 10 years, James Bradley writes about the members of an extended family in a soft-dystopian near-future, where violent climate events have brought rapid changes to the way people live and connect in the world. Clade opens with Adam, a climate scientist, and Ellie, an artist, grappling with the moral and practical suitability of bringing a child into a world they know to be threatened. The structure of the book—broken into chapters that can be read almost as self-contained stories—allows for a vast scope of time, place and characters, yet still the book remains concise and resonant with emotion. Many years can pass between pages, and previously unknown characters can take over the narrative of a new chapter. Bradley’s writing bends to capture the voices of these diverse characters, and imbues the story with a sadness appropriate to the book’s focus on the earth’s changing climate. But despite carrying a political message, this book is not didactic in its tone. Clade is recommended for readers of accomplished contemporary literary fiction, but will also appeal to those interested in the climate science debate.

Brad Jefferies is news editor for Books+Publishing

Books+Publishing pre-publication reviews are supported by the Copyright Agency Cultural Fund.

Category: Reviews