Nathan Filer

Nathan Filer

Nathan Filer’s The Shock of the Fall has been published in over twenty countries including Israel, from where Nathan was once deported, shortly after proposing to his girlfriend, for reasons of national security. 

The novel tells the story of Michael, a 19 year old man struggling to get over the sudden death of his brother, a tragedy that occurred ten years before. It would be reasonable to expect a novel that addresses schizophrenia, Down’s syndrome and psychiatric detention to make for difficult reading. However, the mood is lightened by the mischievous humour and observations of the central character. The Shock of the Fall has received widespread critical acclaim, winning the Costa Book of the Year award in 2013 and drawing comparisons with Vernon God Little and The Catcher in the Rye.

Prior to writing his debut Nathan worked as a mental health nurse, toured the country as a performance poet, made an award-winning short film called Oedipus, lectured in creative writing at Bath Spa University, and volunteered as a human rights activist in Palestine.

Read the Guardian’s interview with Nathan on winning the Costa Book of the Year award.

Books by Nathan Filer

Buy from our Festival Bookshop during the festival, from Waterstones using the link below, or find your preferred local book seller.