Beware of Men with Moustaches

by Elizabeth Kay

Shortlisted for the Dundee International Book Prize, 2013

Four British poets accept an invitation to make a cultural visit to a little-known ex-soviet country and soon find themselves in a Kafkaesque labyrinth of mistaken identity, fake email addresses, impossibly high stilettos and impossibly cheap vodka. Clever, inventive and funny, Beware of Men with Moustaches twists and turns its way through the literary and scenic highlights of Karetsefia, as its characters gradually become aware of their own insularity in a country which is struggling to come to terms with its new identity – and where people have more to worry about than whether or not their next poetry collection is going to be published.

179 pages, ebook

First published September 24, 2012

About the author

Elizabeth Kay is the daughter of a Polish father and an English mother. She originally went to art school, and she is also an illustrator. She has an MA in Creative Writing, and does some teaching and editing. During a varied writing career - from radio plays and short stories to poetry and novels for both adults and children - she has won a number of prizes, including the Cardiff International Poetry Competition and the Canongate Prize for short stories. Elizabeth lists as her hobbies travelling to obscure destinations and trying not to get eaten by the local wildlife.

Reviews

[Craig Phillips · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great little book. Funny moments throughout, likeable characters, and clever twists. I read this in speedy time, as I wanted to find out what was going to happen to the poetry group, as well as it being an enjoyable easy read.