Longlisted for the Desmond Elliott Prize 2017. 
This impressively ambitious riff on Don Quixote and the Peasant’s Revolt gambols and scrambles with intellectual mischievousness.
Don and Is are journeying around Essex. In Don’s mind, they are on a quest to reveal the truth about history, which is (also in Don’s mind) that there is no such thing as history. To Don, the past does not exist, and neither does the future, as he explains to the less intellectually-minded Is through many a colourful speech. Don believes that every action is determined by Chance, that living for the moment is paramount. Is, on the other hand, just wants to get home and is constantly baffled by his companion’s philosophical and scientific declarations. Much mayhem - and danger – ensues, making this extraordinary debut a veritable feat of literary inventiveness that sends readers hurtling down unexpected paths. Extravagant, eccentric and challenging, this is a book to buckle up with, and devote time to - the rewards are well worth the investment. ~ Joanne Owen
| Primary Genre | Modern and Contemporary Fiction |
| Recommendations: |
Forbidden Line is a challenging, dazzling intellectual achievement. It’s also a book about love and companionship; a novel simultaneously touching and hilarious. Above everything else, it’s a pleasure to read – even if it makes you feel like you’re on a careering train, with all the stops and destinations rubbed off, and no idea where you’re heading...
Don and Is career around Essex and London, tilting at windmills, abusing petrol station assistants, fighting with each other and everyone around them. They are on a quest – as far as Don is concerned – to reveal the truth about history (he says there's no such thing) and to uncover the secrets of the hyperfine transition of hydrogen... But Is – like most of us – isn’t really sure what Don is talking about. And all he really wants to do is get through to the next day – and back to his family. Both of which turn into extremely tricky propositions. Don takes Is ever deeper into danger and the very structure of reality begins to turn against them both - as does the narrative of Forbidden Line itself.
There’s never been a book quite like Forbidden Line. Never been anything close.
Forbidden Line features in the following genres: Modern and Contemporary Fiction, eBooks of the Month, General Fiction, Fiction, Recommendations
Forbidden Line is available in Ebook, Paperback
Forbidden Line was written by Paul Stanbridge and published by Galley Beggar Press
Forbidden Line has 620 pages
