A Fraction of the Whole

A Fraction of the Whole

Steve Toltz

Published by Hamish Hamilton

2008

Shortlisted

image of the book cover A Fraction of the Wholeimage of the author Steve Toltz

Synopsis

As he recollects the events that led to his father’s demise, Jasper recounts a boyhood of outrageous schemes and shocking discoveries - about his infamous outlaw uncle Terry, his mysteriously absent European mother, and Martin’s constant losing battle to make a lasting mark on the world he so disdains. It’s a story that takes them from the Australian bush to the cafes of Paris, from the Thai jungle to strip clubs, asylums, labyrinths and criminal lairs, and from the highs of first love to the lows of failed ambition. The result is a rollercoaster ride from obscurity to infamy, and the moving, memorable story of a father and son whose spiritual symmetry transcends all their many shortcomings.

Author Biography

Steve Toltz was born in Sydney, Australia, and has lived in Montreal, Vancouver, Barcelona and Paris, working primarily as a screenwriter, but also doing stints as a private investigator and an English teacher. A Fraction of the Whole is his first book.

The Man Booker Prize Fiction at its finest