
Billy and the Devil
by Dean Lilleyman
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Pub Date 1 Oct 2015 | Archive Date 20 Apr 2016
Description
Resonant of Irvine Welsh and Charles Bukowski, but unique in its style,
voice and addictive central character. Billy and the Devil is a
shocking, compelling and intimate portrayal of isolation, sexual
misadventure, and addiction. Told in a series of brilliantly rendered
observations and episodes from Billy's life, this controversial story
charts an all-too real descent into alcoholism. It is an unflinchingly
vivid journey to a place of no return, where love is lost in the darkest
of woods - a boy, who becomes a man, who becomes his own worst devil.
But ultimately, what choice does Billy have? Raw, poetic, with moments
of pure imaginative visceral genius, Billy and the Devil is by turns
funny and sad, brutal and tender, horrific and uplifting. You will be
both challenged and moved by this astonishing debut novel from author
Dean Lilleyman.
Advance Praise
Billy and the Devil is a completely convincing character study. Said
Billy is a laugh, a tart, a drunk, and more. Dean Lilleyman uses various
writerly and unmannerly techniques to show us the many ages and faces
of his loveable and detestable anti-hero. The book is tender, funny, sad
and grotesque but however gruelling Billy's descent becomes, it bleeds
its own dark poetry. Here, dirty realism has left Los Angeles for
Chesterfield, where it finds itself at a garden barbeque drinking
Leibfraumilch and barley wine. Terrific. --Matthew Clegg, author of West
North East
This is wild stuff, very dark and very brilliant. --Conor O'Callaghan, author of The Sun King
Brilliantly evoked in all its sordid detail, black humour, demented courage, and alienation --Jane Rogers, author of Mr Wroe's Virgins and Promised Lands
This is wild stuff, very dark and very brilliant. --Conor O'Callaghan, author of The Sun King
Brilliantly evoked in all its sordid detail, black humour, demented courage, and alienation --Jane Rogers, author of Mr Wroe's Virgins and Promised Lands
Available Editions
EDITION | Paperback |
ISBN | 9781910692332 |
PRICE | £8.99 (GBP) |
Links
Average rating from 8 members
Featured Reviews

It's not an easy book. The mix of and POVs and different writing styles is challenging and very interesting.
Billy's life is told as the sum of small and tragic events. He says: "I'm tired of being me" and all readers will understand him. "All I know is that something black and heavy sits n my belly, making everything black, so black and so heavy that I can't carry it anymore."
It's not really entertaining but it's literature that makes you think.