Description

Book Synopsis

''A thrilling, nauseating and painfully real depiction of what happens as youth, talent and charisma sour'' MEGAN NOLAN
''Anyone wondering where The Great American Novel went: this is it on bail'' DBC PIERRE

Debauched, divorced and courting death, Billy Ray Schafer is a comedian who has forgotten how to laugh. Over the course of seven spun-out days across the American Southwest, he travels from hell gig to hell gig in search of a reason to keep living, in this bleak and violent glimpse into the psyche of a thoroughly ruined man. Ex-inmate, ex-husband, ex-father - comedian is the only title Schafer has left.

Trapped in the wreckage of his wasted career, Billy Ray knows the answer to the question: What happens when opportunity doesn''t come - or worse - it comes and goes?

In ''a majestically bleak, hilarious and bruising tour of regret, delusion and the detonation of the soul'' (Sam Lipsyte), Tallent hurls you into an absolute mess of a man''s life as we search for the mercy he does not want.

Running the Light

    Product form

    £17.60

    Includes FREE delivery

    RRP £22.00 – you save £4.40 (20%)

    Order before 4pm today for delivery by Wed 8 Jul 2026.

    A Hardback by Sam Tallent

    2 in stock

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

      View other formats and editions of Running the Light by Sam Tallent

      Publisher: Orion Publishing Co
      Publication Date: Publication Date: 5/8/2025
      ISBN13: 9781399632898, 978-1399632898
      ISBN10: 1399632892
      Also in:
      Contemporary Fiction

      Description

      Book Synopsis

      ''A thrilling, nauseating and painfully real depiction of what happens as youth, talent and charisma sour'' MEGAN NOLAN
      ''Anyone wondering where The Great American Novel went: this is it on bail'' DBC PIERRE

      Debauched, divorced and courting death, Billy Ray Schafer is a comedian who has forgotten how to laugh. Over the course of seven spun-out days across the American Southwest, he travels from hell gig to hell gig in search of a reason to keep living, in this bleak and violent glimpse into the psyche of a thoroughly ruined man. Ex-inmate, ex-husband, ex-father - comedian is the only title Schafer has left.

      Trapped in the wreckage of his wasted career, Billy Ray knows the answer to the question: What happens when opportunity doesn''t come - or worse - it comes and goes?

      In ''a majestically bleak, hilarious and bruising tour of regret, delusion and the detonation of the soul'' (Sam Lipsyte), Tallent hurls you into an absolute mess of a man''s life as we search for the mercy he does not want.

      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