A newcomer has arrived in a small Welsh seaside town - a one-armed Liverpudlian. Seeking to rebuild his life, if not his body, he is attempting to lead a life here unlike any he's lived before: a normal one - shopping, gardening, signing on, visiting friends, all the usual diurnal activities.Over a hundred miles to the north, however, two men in shellsuits are leaving Liverpool, heading south in a rickety old car. They have been sent by their gang-boss to wreak terrible, violent revenge, but have only a rough idea of their quarry: a one-armed man, maybe living somewhere in west Wales, in a small town by the sea.

A newcomer has arrived in a small Welsh seaside town - a one-armed Liverpudlian. Seeking to rebuild his life, if not his body, he is attempting to lead a life here unlike any he's lived before: a normal one - shopping, gardening, signing on, visiting friends, all the usual diurnal activities. -Over a hundred miles to the north, however, two men in shellsuits are leaving Liverpool, heading south in a rickety old car. They have been sent by their gang-boss to wreak terrible, violent revenge, but have only a rough idea of their quarry: a one-armed man, maybe living somewhere in west Wales, in a small town by the sea.--'He is an epic and, at moments, visionary writer-Griffiths, through this man's gentle but raging voice, gives one of the great depictions of alcoholism' Toby Litt, Guardian--'Niall Griffiths is an actual literary star. He writes with vim and sympathy about the things young people do' Daily Telegraph--'In the top rank of contemporary British authors-He brings tremendous rhythm and energy to his prose' Glasgow Herald--'Stump is the author's gentlest and funniest book by far-He has a prose style as compelling and seductive as any writer in the land' Big Issue--'The range of Griffiths's achievement is as exhilarating as the reach of his ambition' Guardian