Lady

Melvin Burgess

A flirtatious, confident and rebellious teenager is transformed into an understandably confused and frightened dog by a tramp with magical powers. Sandra has a lot of growing up to do, quickly, to survive as a scrounging stray in a competitive and rough dog's world. She must do the clearest thinking of her life to work out whether she wants to recover her humanity, and if so, how to do it. This is doubly difficult as the brain she must think with is reduced to the scattered consciousness of a dog and the reality of the situation poses enormous problems as she finds herself experiencing all the physical aspects of being a dog, including running with a pack and going on heat.

Reviews

"It has Burgess's unpredictability, darkness and ability to confront the dispiriting"
Observer

"Lady succeeds on several levels: it’s both a teenage rite of passage and a satire on the emptiness of modern life"
Big Issue

"This funny, punchy, well-written, original book asks real questions"
Daily Telegraph

"[Lady] has confirmed Burgess’ position as the most exciting contemporary UK writer of teenage fiction"
Scotsman

"Burgess keeps the suspense high to the very last. This seductive volume is as raw and ravenous as its subject"
Publishers Weekly