Lanny

Say your prayers and Be Good Too

Or Dead Papa Toothwort Is Coming For You.

Not far from Bristol, there is a village. It belongs to the people who live in it and to those who lived in it hundreds of years ago. It belongs to Englands mysterious past and its confounding present. It belongs to families dead for generations, and to those who have only recently moved here, such as Lanny and his mum and dad.

But it also belongs to Dead Papa Toothwort, who has woken from his slumber in the woods. Dead Papa Toothwort, who is listening to them all.

Lanny is a dark and powerful story of folklore, fable and the nature of belonging. Max Porters critically acclaimed, bestselling novel was longlisted for the Booker Prize. Bea Roberts stage adaptation was premiered at Bristol Old Vic in 2026, co-produced with English Touring Theatre and directed by Nancy Medina.

A joyously stirred cauldron of words… remarkable for its simultaneous spareness and extravaganceGuardian on Max Porters original novel

Its hard to express how much I loved Lanny. Books this good dont come along very often. Its a novel like no other, an exhilarating, disquieting, joyous read. It will reach into your chest and take hold of your heart. Its a novel to press into the hands of everyone you know and say, read this Maggie OFarrell