Spider - Softcover

Set in 1957, this book tells the story of Spider, a lonely figure who returns to the East End of London after 20 years in an asylum. Spider moves into a boarding house and begins to write an account of his childhood, providing a disturbing vision of psychotic illness from inside.

Patrick McGrath is the author of two story collections and eight novels, including Asylum, which was an international bestseller. His novels have been widely translated, and he is also the author of Ghost Town: Tales of Manhattan Then and Now, a collection of novellas. Trauma was shortlisted in the UK for the Costa Novel Award. Spider was filmed by David Cronenberg from McGrath's adaptation. Constance, his most recent novel, was published in 2013. He coedited an influential anthology of short fiction, The New Gothic, and recent nonfiction includes introductions to The Monk, Moby Dick and Barnaby Rudge. Patrick McGrath lives in Manhattan and London.