The Monarch — John Jennings

Fisherman, publican, father - his influence reaches throughout North East England. Meet Jerry Compton. a friendly man, a just man, a reasonable man. The fairest of his profession.The Monarch, a modern masterpiece, is a searing portrayal of 1990s Northumberland, England and the North of Ireland. It is also the intimate story of the Compton family, at once drawn together and ripped apart by its unique position at the core of Northumbrian society in the aftermath of the Miners' Strike, Ireland's Troubles and industrial and agricultural decline. Throw in a young Irish woman and her young family for good measure to further expose the regions' issues whilst hopefully choosing a path to success and enlightenment. Will they succeed and embrace the coming century, or will they succumb to the negative fatalism so typical of many of their forbears?Marrying English and North Eastern dialect with a free and elaborate style, the author employs realism and streams of consciousness to portray North East England and Ireland, exploring metaphysics and ideas around spiritual awakening, to build throughout upon an esoteric metaphorical subtext which resonates increasingly and culminates in the novel's final scene.