Stewart Home – Blood Rites of the Bourgeoisie (Semina, 2010)

Home’s latest novel is an installment in a series of books of experimental fiction. More on other episodes in the series anon, I hope.

“Blood Rites” has a number of themes – identity blurring, spam, the machinations of the art world in London. It confuses as much as it reveals, which should make for a satisfying read for the more adventurous. Dan Brown this isn’t.

The text includes a number of paragraphs of rewritten spam emails, which can be annoying, or poetic or distracting – just like wading through “real” spam when you’re trying to get to your email or blog comments. It gives “Blood Rites” a slightly off-kilter rhythm, which I enjoyed very much.

Much of the book also covers the thorny tale of the real identity of Belle Du Jour – something I’ve previously covered in relation to Stewart here. There’s even an appendix which includes some pretty weird comments from Home’s Mr Trippy blog, in which some nutjobs are completely convinced that he is Belle Du Jour, even after her actual identity was revealed. (Or was it? Ad infinitum tedium…)

Blood Rites of the Bourgeoisie is published as part of Book Works’ Semina series (No.7) edited by Stewart Home. Printed offset in an edition of 1,500 copies, b/w, 128 pages with a soft cover, and colour dust jacket. Designed by Fraser Muggeridge, 130 x 195 mm.