The Pugilist and the Sailor

by Nadia Ragbar

"This book is so strangely moving and truly funny and sad and beautiful. An impressive debut from a writer already in possession of a unique voice."—Miriam Toews

Bruce and Dougie Reuben are conjoined twins. Dougie is an ambitious amateur boxer and Bruce is a dreamy bookkeeper. As a romantic relationship forms between Bruce and a woman he’s only corresponded with through letters, Dougie’s sole focus is to secure the Heavyweight Amateur Boxing title as one half of “The Reuben Beast”—mysterious blackouts and severe headaches be damned.

The Pugilist and the Sailor examines the unique relationships between conjoined brothers, parents, crushes, and unexpected mentors. A shifting story about the entanglement of longing and belonging, compromise and connection, this novel is ultimately a consideration of family and what it means to find your place both within and beyond it.

240 pages, Paperback

Published September 16, 2025

Reviews

[Whatithinkaboutthisbook · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Pugilist and The Sailor by Nadia Ragbar

This is an utterly unique and unforgettable story that is charming, poignant and deeply moving. From the very first page, you’re drawn into the richly imagined world of her characters and once there, you won’t want to leave. Ragbar is a magnificent storyteller whose vibrant, nuanced and fully realized characters foster an immediate emotional connection. Even the supporting cast is impressively developed, adding depth and texture to the narrative.

This wasn't a story I was naturally drawn to at first, but I’m grateful I read it, it has found a lasting place in my heart. Bruce and Doug, conjoined twins, whose parents chose not to separate them, believing the risks are too great. They are raised to be unashamed and that they are “In control of their bodies together and in control of their destinies. Able to trust themselves to face whomever or whatever might oppose them in life.” Their journey is both beautiful and inspiring, as Ragbar crafts two independent, distinct personalities who challenge societal expectations and pursue different interests despite their physical bond.

Boxing serves as both a metaphor and mechanism in the story - representing not only a way for the brothers to gain mastery over their shared body, but also a means of emotional expression and personal growth. It also highlights the distinct differences in the twins interests and the compromises they must make to accommodate each other. Ragbar explores their unique situation with compassion, humour and nuance, exploring the compromises, tensions, and triumphs that shape their lives.

It’s impossible to read this book and not fall in love with Bruce and Doug as well as memorable supporting characters, like Anza, who is navigating her own journey through grief, and Kristof, the tailor, whose craft personifies the individualism and uniqueness of each brother within the suit he sews.

This is a story about finding one’s place in the world while navigating loss, grief and difference. It is about the power of connection. It explores the bonds that tie us together - metaphorically, physically and emotionally - with grace and insight. With its beautiful prose, richly drawn characters and an utterly original premise, this novel is a standout. I can’t wait to see what Ragbar writes next.

[Lucy Black · Rating 5 out of 5]

In The Pugilist and the Sailor, Nadia Ragbar delves into the world of two conjoined twin brothers. Dougie is an easygoing extrovert who competes as a semi-professional boxer, while Bruce is more of an introvert, who works as a bookkeeper, has romantic sensibilities and dreams of circumnavigation. As Dougie is preparing for an important boxing match, Bruce becomes captivated by a young woman he observed in the library. An important boxing match is held and somehow the fight goes awry, with the referee declaring his opponent the winner. The setback for Dougie is complicated by anger and frustration. Bruce, meanwhile, has tired of the boxing life and is beginning to dream of being physically separated from his brother. Although such thoughts fill him with guilt and panic, he longs for the opportunity to explore complete independence. The two are approached by Kristof, a retired tailor now living with his daughter, who offers to make the twins a beautiful suit. Kristof knows that it will be his greatest challenge and also his final masterwork. As Kristof works on his ambitious project, the suit’s description becomes a lovely metaphor for the twins: Two entirely distinct garments being held together in co-operation and contention. An accomplished debut novel, rich with characterization and a compelling narrative voice. Recommended.

Full review forthcoming in The Miramichi Reader.

[Alison Gadsby]

When conjoined twins Dougie and Bruce Reuben are born in 1978, their mother and father Jane and Walter, decide that it would be better for them if they stayed attached, so that they’ll never feel “that terror of really being on your own in the world.” Their mother Jane whispers into their newborn ears, “Never bend for this place. Force the world to rise up to meet you. Because you, my children, are perfect.”

With a carefully crafted narrative that connects the varying perspectives of the people whose lives intersect with the twins, Ragbar gives us all the struggle, the love, the pain, the fear and the grief that makes up a truly beautiful life. We get the tender loving perspective of a mother who births conjoined twins at a time when separation is cautioned as a life-or-death procedure. We witness a love story in letters between Bruce and Anka, whose parents were killed by a drunk driver. We meet Kristoff, an elderly tailor hired to make a suit for the twins that honours their unique personalities, and throughout we move easily between Bruce and Dougie’s thoughts. The characters in this novel are pure and what a pleasure to read a book that contains so many people to root for.

This novel is about finding one’s place in a world that is complicated by its tendency toward conformity, a world that admires it in fact. It is also about being true to oneself when your chances of “fitting in” don’t exist. People who are different, people who stand out, are easy targets for bullies and Bruce and Dougie certainly experience their fair share. With Ragbar’s deft prose and obvious love for these characters, The Pugilist and The Sailor is a beautiful heartwarming read.

This novel isn’t about fitting in or even rising up, and it is most certainly not about being perfect. This is a story about loss, and how even the worst possible thing can open our hearts to the best possible life.

[Enid Wray]

I was with this… until I wasn’t.

This was a decent enough read, and a debut, so I was prepared to cut it a little bit of slack. Sadly, the more I read the more “discomfitted” I became about numerous aspects of it…

But then I hit page 189 (out of 237 in total) and I was ready to hurl my iPad across the room. I did finish it - because I wanted to see how the author wrote her way out of this. I can tell you in no uncertain terms that I regret having bothered to finish it. The ending is so rushed, and so unfulfilling… and so problematic (on account of page 189….)

Maybe I'm over-reacting - but I don't think so!