The Delicacy Av James Albon

Rare and delicious fungi spell trouble for an ambitious restaurateur in this sumptuously painted graphic novel from one of Scotland's most imaginative young cartoonists. This thrilling page-turner, a fascinating glimpse into the high-pressure world of big-city restaurants, is a must-read for foodies, Anglophiles, Food Network fans, and those with a taste for beautiful, terrible people. Tulip and his brother Rowan have left the simple comforts of their remote Scottish island with a plan: to grow succulent, organic vegetables in an idyllic market garden, and to open a restaurant serving these wholesome culinary delights to the busy sprawl of London. The world of fine dining seems impossibly competitive... until they discover a deliriously scrumptious new species of mushroom. The dish brings diners in droves, catapulting their small restaurant to success beyond their wildest dreams. Now, pressured by the demands of a hungry city, Tulip is desperate to crack the secret of their new ingredient's growth. But just how much will he sacrifice to feed his own insatiable ambition? James Albon is a British writer and illustrator. He studied illustration at Edinburgh College of Art, and went on to a postgraduate scholarship at the Royal Drawing School in London. His short comic Madame & Me was a finalist in the Guardian/Comica/Cape Award in 2017, he was awarded the Gwen May Award from the Royal Society of Painter-Printmakers in 2012, and has been a Laureate of the Rene Carcan Biennale in 2014 and 2020. His previous books are Her Bark & Her Bite (2016) and A Shining Beacon (2019). Praise for James Albon: "A brilliantly drawn, heart-rending drama of modern life in troubled times, so contemporary that it could be off the streets of any city today." - Paul Buhle, author of Marxism in the United States and Lecturer Emeritus of American Studies, Brown University "Like a New Yorker cover spun out to a fullstory... Albon uses loose and energetic colored pencil, in a palette heavy in yellows and blues, to capture the social and emotional whirl of this airy tale." - Publishers Weekly "James Albon's delicate and utterly unique artwork is so alive on the page, you can't help but be charmed and completely swept up." - Jeff Lemire, author of Essex County and The Underwater Welder "Lines and shade flow through the panels, bringing the story to life as if it were caught in a breeze... extraordinary." - Grovel "A fantastic book, extrapolating British current affairs into a dystopian nightmare. It's on point, superbly written, joyously illustrated and a pleasure to read." - Grovel