“A strange and surprisingly touching novel about how people find good and evil where they look for them.” — Booklist

“A beautifully written novel, part folk tale, part parable.” — Will Ferguson, author of the Scotiabank Giller Prize-winning 419

Winner of the Canadian Authors Association Award for Fiction

In 1930s Russia, an eight-year-old boy named Vladimir is suddenly stricken with a chronic case of the hiccups. He soon finds himself spirited away to a Moscow hospital by the famous physician Sergei Namestikov, who puts him through a series of extraordinary — and often bizarre — treatments in an effort to find a cure.

Then Sergei’s chief medical rival, the brilliant Alexander Afiniganov, determines that beneath Vladimir’s blank eyes lurks a pure, unbridled evil — and takes steps to remove the child from polite society. Abandoned by everyone but his hiccups, Vladimir is about to embark on a journey that is funny, poignant, and surreal — and that takes a close look at the nature of good and evil.

Christopher Meades is the author of three previous novels, including The Last Hiccup, which won the 2013 Canadian Authors Association Award for Fiction. In addition, Meades's work has appeared in several literary journals including The Potomac Review and The Fiddlehead. He lives in British Columbia, Canada, with his family.

Christopher Meades' profile page

• Winner, Canadian Authors Association Award for Fiction

“Meades reveals himself a gifted writer, deft with descriptions splashing surrealistic images.” — Kirkus Reviews

“Extremely clever, dark, surreal, and unexpectedly poignant. I certainly hope Chris continues to push himself into the unexpected, for I sense there are fathoms of fantastic weirdness in him just aching to be discovered.” — Shelf Monkey

“Christopher Meades’s writing feels like an artform in itself … if you enjoy dark-ish humour, Canadian literature or books that are just different, this is the book for you.” — Just a Girl Geek

“A strange and surprisingly touching novel about how people find good and evil where they look for them.” — Booklist

“A beautifully written novel, part folk tale, part parable.” — Will Ferguson, author of the Scotiabank Giller Prize-winning novel 419