W&N snares debut author Rose's contemporary feminist folktale in six-way auction

W&N has acquired The Lamb, the debut novel by Lucy Rose, in a six-way auction.

Alexa von Hirschberg, publishing director, acquired UK and Commonwealth rights in The Lamb and a second novel from Cathryn Summerhayes at Curtis Brown. It was also pre-empted by Noah Eaker and Edie Astley at Harper US. The Lamb will be published by W&N in January 2025 in hardback, audio and e-book.

The Lamb is about Margot and her mother, Ruth, who live in a ramshackle cottage by a forest. They satisfy their insatiable hunger by picking off ‘Strays’ – lost hikers or people with car trouble – and drugging them before consuming them. But things get complicated when Eden arrives at their door and falls in love with Ruth, and when Margot’s best friend at school finds her father is missing.

A contemporary folktale, The Lamb is described as a “rare” and “tender” coming-of-age story which uses cannibalism to dissect how women must swallow their anger, desire and animal instincts.

Cumbrian-raised Rose is a writer and filmmaker. Her short fiction and personal essays have been published in Dread Central, Mslexia, Ghouls on Film and more. A Curtis Brown Creative Breakthrough alumni writer and one of Mslexia’s featured columnists and fiction writers, in early 2023 she was awarded Arts Council DYCP funding for literary development. She currently lives in Newcastle.

Von Hirschberg said: “I never thought I’d buy a cannibal novel. I’m not one for horror or gore. But this is an exceptional literary debut that curled its grubby little fingers around me from the get-go. I did feel physically sick reading it, but I love that words on a page have the capacity to do that to me, and I also love that the author is opening up a space for women to be unhinged and hungry.

“It’s not just trying to shock. At its heart it’s a dark, literary, coming-of-age story. A contemporary feminist folktale written with the kind of relish and humour that Angela Carter fans will, well, gobble up. Lucy Rose is a huge talent and I can’t wait to unleash this debut on the world.”

Rose said: “I’m elated to be working with Alexa and her team at W&N on The Lamb. The team saw right into the meaty heart of this story, and showed enormous love and excitement for this twisted, cannibalistic folktale about a daughter and her mother trying to understand how to love one another. I can’t wait to work with Alexa again – I just know we’re going to make a great team. Collaborating with such a dedicated group is such a privilege as a debut author, especially when you know those people will bring out the best in you.”

Summerhayes added: “As soon as I read the first paragraph of The Lamb I knew that Lucy Rose was an exceptionally talented author. I am so glad that Alexa, Noah and Edie share my excitement for this dark and brilliant novel.”