Description

Book Synopsis

There's Grandaddy Jake Santee, 99 years old, an unreformed gambler, cranky reprobate and fierce opponent of the work ethic. Thanks to his home-distilled hooch, Ol' Death Whisper, he reckons he's in with good shot at immortality. And then there's Tiny, adopted at the age of four by Grandaddy Jake, a giant young man as gentle as Jake is belligerent.

And then there's Fup, an uncompromising twenty-pound mallard, partial to a drink herself, whose unique presence transforms the Santee household.

Hilarious, heartwarming and magical, Fup is a contemporary fable that inspires an almost evangelical fervour in all who read it. It is a work of enormous originality with a giant heart.



Trade Review
I was a "wilderness educator" back in Texas in the mid-eighties . . . At night I used to read these tough, streetwise kids to sleep - Catcher in the Rye, The Grapes of Wrath, and a fable called Fup by Jim Dodge. They loved Fup in particular, a fable about a duck . . . I still hear from these kids - they're all over the country now and generally they're out of trouble, except for the fact that they might be reading Fup to their kids -- Colum McCann * * Paris Review * *
A fairytale ending worthy of Oscar Wilde * * Sunday Telegraph * *
You'll love it * * Independent on Sunday * *
Short, sharp and wickedly funny * * Elle * *
Delightful and constantly surprising. Jim Dodge has produced something rare: a fairy tale that is wonderfully down to earth. * * Daily Telegraph * *

A short, masterful and unusual fable.

* * The Times * *
This novel is fupped uck. * * The Times * *
Stupendous. It is a jewel, a gem, a diamond in the cesspool of life. * * San Francisco Chronicle * *
A timeless fable that is vibrant, vital, poetic and full of humanity, this is a short but perfectly formed work that you can come back to again and again. * * Waterstone's Books Quarterly * *
If you fell in love with Babe then you'll love Fup. Simple, touching and refreshingly short * * The Face * *
A pint-sized powerpack of a novel. It's got everything * * Big Issue * *
Fup shows Jim Dodge to be one of the most original literary voices * * Elle * *

Fup: A Modern Fable

    Product form

    £9.49

    Includes FREE delivery

    RRP £9.99 – you save £0.50 (5%)

    Order before 4pm tomorrow for delivery by Fri 10 Jul 2026.

    A Paperback / softback by Jim Dodge, Harry Horse

    4 in stock

      Trusted by thousands of customers. See 2,385+ Customer Reviews

      View other formats and editions of Fup: A Modern Fable by Jim Dodge

      Publisher: Canongate Books
      Publication Date: Publication Date: 03/09/2015
      ISBN13: 9781782116356, 978-1782116356
      ISBN10: 1782116354

      Description

      Book Synopsis

      There's Grandaddy Jake Santee, 99 years old, an unreformed gambler, cranky reprobate and fierce opponent of the work ethic. Thanks to his home-distilled hooch, Ol' Death Whisper, he reckons he's in with good shot at immortality. And then there's Tiny, adopted at the age of four by Grandaddy Jake, a giant young man as gentle as Jake is belligerent.

      And then there's Fup, an uncompromising twenty-pound mallard, partial to a drink herself, whose unique presence transforms the Santee household.

      Hilarious, heartwarming and magical, Fup is a contemporary fable that inspires an almost evangelical fervour in all who read it. It is a work of enormous originality with a giant heart.



      Trade Review
      I was a "wilderness educator" back in Texas in the mid-eighties . . . At night I used to read these tough, streetwise kids to sleep - Catcher in the Rye, The Grapes of Wrath, and a fable called Fup by Jim Dodge. They loved Fup in particular, a fable about a duck . . . I still hear from these kids - they're all over the country now and generally they're out of trouble, except for the fact that they might be reading Fup to their kids -- Colum McCann * * Paris Review * *
      A fairytale ending worthy of Oscar Wilde * * Sunday Telegraph * *
      You'll love it * * Independent on Sunday * *
      Short, sharp and wickedly funny * * Elle * *
      Delightful and constantly surprising. Jim Dodge has produced something rare: a fairy tale that is wonderfully down to earth. * * Daily Telegraph * *

      A short, masterful and unusual fable.

      * * The Times * *
      This novel is fupped uck. * * The Times * *
      Stupendous. It is a jewel, a gem, a diamond in the cesspool of life. * * San Francisco Chronicle * *
      A timeless fable that is vibrant, vital, poetic and full of humanity, this is a short but perfectly formed work that you can come back to again and again. * * Waterstone's Books Quarterly * *
      If you fell in love with Babe then you'll love Fup. Simple, touching and refreshingly short * * The Face * *
      A pint-sized powerpack of a novel. It's got everything * * Big Issue * *
      Fup shows Jim Dodge to be one of the most original literary voices * * Elle * *

      Recently viewed products

      © 2026 Book Curl

        • American Express
        • Apple Pay
        • Diners Club
        • Discover
        • Google Pay
        • Maestro
        • Mastercard
        • PayPal
        • Shop Pay
        • Union Pay
        • Visa

        Login

        Forgot your password?

        Don't have an account yet?
        Create account