Is it actually possible to be original? The narrator of our Book of the Week—Dead Souls by Sam Riviere—meets a poet in a bar who has been cast out of poetry circles (twice) for plagiarism, and who presents the narrator (and us) with a wonderful seven-hour monologue full of bitterness, inventiveness, and devastating humour. 
>>Read Thomas's review. 
<<Read an excerpt. 

>>Read another excerpt. 
>>Mixed feelings towards poetry. 

>>"Combines meticulous analysis with despairing intimacy."
>>Crimes against originality. 
>>On plagiarism, social media, and conspiracy theories. 
>>A profound experience of poetry? 
>>Why poetry? Why the novel? 
>>Why has Riviere plagiarised the book's title from Gogol (or vice-versa)? 
>>Dead Souls live.   
>>Read the book!