Milton In Purgatory

by Edward Vass

Milton Pitt leads an uneventful life, with a dull job and a secret longing for adventure. One morning, after he is hit by a speeding car, he suffers an out-of-body experience and awakens back in his bedroom. Everything is just the same – that is, except for the bloody footprints leading to the chimney…

Is this his chance to lead a better life? Was it just a dream? Or is he
simply dead?

In this richly inventive and humorous novella, Edward Vass brings the themes of Dante’s Divine Comedy 700 years into the future.

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary, Literary Fiction, Fantasy

192 pages, Paperback

First published September 26, 2019

About the author

Edward Vass is the author of Milton in Purgatory, published by Fairlight Books. Edward grew up in Devon, before leaving to study at the University of Lincoln. After graduation, he left the UK to teach English in the South Korean city of Daegu. This turned into an eighteen-month tour of Asia. During that time he began to experiment with writing and ideas for stories without ever committing to a complete novel. On his return Edward moved to Oxford to work at a publishing house, he was inspired by its literary past to begin writing an idea he’d come up with in South Korea. He now works in London, and lives just outside of Brighton with his family.

Reviews

[Ends of the Word · Rating 4 out of 5]

What does Life have in store for us after Death? Or, let me rephrase that… What does Death have in store for us after Life?

It is a question which the world’s greatest religions have grappled with, which the earliest myths and foremost philosophers have pondered upon, and which has inspired great art, music and literature. It is also an enigma which is unexpectedly thrust upon twenty-six year old Milton Pitt, hit by a car on his way to the work.

Milton leads quite a boring life, alternating between days at the office and boozy nights out. He has no important relationships and no short-term goals (nor long-term ones, for that matter) apart from a vague, unrequited appetite for travel inspired by a picture book about Cuba, a childhood gift from an émigré uncle. This wanderlust will soon be rewarded with the strangest trip ever, as Milton is unexpectedly catapulted into the Afterlife.

Edward Vass’s novella is an inventive, hilarious romp which turns many tropes about Heaven, Purgatory and Hell on their head. Milton makes for an entertaining narrator as he navigates the cartoonish stations of the world beyond. There’s a degree of irreverence and no doubt a couple of conservative eyebrows will be raised at the portrayal of Jesus as one Barry Davis, a bossy official of the Innovation of Religion Department. Yet the humour is so good-natured, elicits laughter so naturally and is ultimately so warm-hearted that I cannot imagine anyone seriously taking offence.

At the same time, Milton in Purgatory should not be dismissed as “mere” comic entertainment. The best comedy tends to have a moralistic element. And Vass’s novella is as much about the world we live in as it is about the crazy otherworldly kingdom it portrays. Throughout there are witty, well-aimed barbs which satirize the (un)comfortably numb existence cultivated by contemporary society.

This is another winner in the latest clutch of Fairlight Moderns. The novella is often viewed as the “Cinderella” sister between the short story and the novel. This series is doing much to right that wrong.

https://endsoftheword.blogspot.com/20...

[Robert · Rating 5 out of 5]

The afterlife is a fascinating topic in literature. In fact I would say that it’s a total creative playground. Since we do not know what happens after, it gives authors the opportunity to let their imaginations run like an escaped beast.

Such is the case of Milton in Purgatory.

The plot itself is simple. Milton Pitt dies in a car accident and then has to experience the trials faced in the afterlife. Trust me, it is bizarre.

Vass presents a creative view of Milton’s journey into the different stages of purgatory. Each one wilder than the last. Vass brand of offbeat humor works perfectly. Think of David Mitchell meets Neil Gaiman with some Douglas Adams absurdity and a pinch of the warped logic you find in a david Lynch film. As Milton reaches his final destination ( obviously I’m not going to spoil that) you will laugh and root for him.

Just a word of advice – do pay attention to the details in the book because Vass will reuse them in the narrative in a clever way.

Once again Fairlight Moderns have come up with another stunning novella. Definitely the most creative one I’ve read so far.

[SueLucie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a bit of a romp, imagining what the afterlife might hold for one man and, by extension, all of us. I enjoyed many of its ideas, not least the character of the narration, recording one life after another for eternity - now that’s what I’d call purgatory - and to make matters worse he has to endure a continual commentary from three ‘observers’ he acquired over the years. Milton (and therefore we) can’t see or hear these three so we can only follow their conversation from the narration’s often tetchy reactions. I liked his wry, world-weary take on events in Milton’s life and afterlife. In fact I’d say the narration was the best bit of the book for me. The rest was fine, inventive and surreal for sure, but became a little bit like listening to someone describe their dream to you, probably more fun for the person involved, ie the author.

With thanks to Fairlight Moderns via NetGalley for the opportunity to read an ARC. A series to recommend.

[Stephanie Griffin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this book, although it almost got me to DNF it in the first few pages! Pressing forward, I ended up having a lot of fun. It’s a novella published in the UK and I can’t remember who recommended it to me.
What I liked
There are some very funny parts. The scene in the elevator that is going to the 572nd floor gave me lots to chuckle at. Also, there are ideas to think about in regards to your own beliefs.
What I didn’t like
As I was saying, the beginning almost put me off reading it at all, and that’s because of the writing style. Remember those old text computer games? The ones where you typed in a choice between your options of going forward?

You enter a room which has a couch and a table. There is a box on the table. What do you do?

This is what the writing reminded me of - but as a very clipped first-person narrative.
So upon finishing this gem, it did leave me with a warm fuzzy feeling. Highly recommended!

[Jason · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fantastic story, a proper adventure through the afterlife. Milton is our main character, he wakes up one morning after a night out drinking and fighting, incredibly hungover....he even threw up on a book....shocking! His journey to work is like any other day, except for the dying part that is.

Edward Vass then creates a wonderful series of events as Milton works his way through Purgatory, meeting some great characters on the way. If one day a cult is built around this book then count me in, it makes life and death more fun than most religions around at the moment.

The writing is very good, it draws you in very quickly and doesn't let go until the end, it's one of those books that sticks with you when you put it down. This is my first book by Fairlight Books and I love it, brilliant cover and small enough to fit in your pocket....I'm gonna have to start collecting these.

Blog review: https://felcherman.wordpress.com/2019...

[Sammie · Rating 4 out of 5]

You can find my full review on my blog, The Writerly Way, here.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Fairlight Books for an eARC in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.

I love Dante’s Divine Comedy (which isn’t really a comedy, regardless of what the title says) and actual comedy, so a modern re-imagining of it from the point of view of a British teen? Yes, please.
After all, we all know the British are the best at cynicism, sarcasm, and dry humor. They’ve had time to perfect them, obviously.

Milton in Purgatory is a short but fast-paced journey through the afterlife, with subverted expectations, dry humor, and a painfully average (and therefore highly relatable) protagonist.

I’m not sure exactly how much I can say about this book, because it really is about the journey. The greatest pleasure in reading this (aside from the humor, which yeah, forever sign me up for British humor please) was discovering this version of the afterlife, bit by bit. There were surprises around every turn.

My Thoughts:

- The protagonist is Milton, a perfectly ordinary, unexceptional teenager who’s not ready to die. Which makes his journey so much more relatable. He’s not exactly a hero. In fact, Milton doesn’t have a whole lot going for him in life yet. Which, of course, means his reactions as he discovers things are pretty spot on to how most people would react, which was nice. The fact that Milton is so everyman means that his reactions are delightfully apropos and exactly what you would expect, and his character was so approachable because of it.

- The humor made this a quick, fun read. Even when it felt like not much was happening, there were a lot of things that made me laugh. Because if you have to journey through the afterlife, why not make it a funny trip? Everyone appreciates a bit of humor. The humor in this is a dry, sarcastic, British sort of humor, occasionally crossing over to the dark side. I’m a huge fan of the British style of humor, but I know it can be a bit of an acquired taste. If that’s your sort of thing, though, this book is rife with it.

- Narration is a delightful little creature/character and has such a fun personality. Now, I can’t say too much about this because it borders potential spoiler territory, even though the reader meets him fairly early. But this character is delightful in that he’s funny and mysterious and maybe a little confusing in the way he talks to people that only he can see.

- The whole point of this is subverting expectations, so be prepared to be surprised about the afterlife. Forget everything you thought you knew about what comes after death, because nothing can prepare you for the journey Milton’s about to take. To be fair, Milton was woefully unprepared, too, so at least you’re in good company. I can’t really say anything about this, because the point of the story is in the journey, but I definitely looked forward to all the little surprises and twists that the book had in store.

- This story is a short, quick read, but there’s a lot bundled into a small package, and I just loved the way it wrapped up and ended. At only 119 pages, this is a pretty short book (novella, really, if we’re getting technical). And these are sooooo hit or miss with me, because I sometimes feel that there’s things missing, sacrificed for the shorter word count. That was not so much a problem here. Despite being so short, there’s a full story, with characters that I felt like I had the chance to know sufficiently well enough to like, and a conclusion that felt like a nice way to wrap things up and didn’t leave me wanting.

Sticking Points:

- There are times when the story gets so ridiculous that it was just hard to follow without rolling my eyes. This entirely just comes down to personal preference. I don’t do complete absurdity well. I’ve tried. I can do the fantastical, the weird, the crazy, the unexpected … but in the end, I need things to still fit together in an orderly fashion and make sense. This book definitely embodies surrealism, and does it well for the most part, but surrealism is so hit or miss for me personally that I don’t always “get it”. I definitely struggled with some aspects of this book. It was a very small part overall, but it still stood out for me.

[Mridula Gupta · Rating 3 out of 5]

Purgatory, a concept I first came across in Supernatural, the TV show. Our protagonist, Milton Pitt, an otherwise mediocre citizen is killed by a speeding car. This is followed by an intense and hilarious experience of his journey to after-life and Purgatory.

Vaas uses a characteristics dry humour in this modern day retelling of The Divine Comedy. Milton has very little to reminisce about after his death. But he has made a few small mistakes throughout his short life and its time he understands how that affects people.

Vass's novella is unique, gives a little bit of Murakami vibes (at certain places) and elicits a chuckle every now and then in an otherwise dark plot. It has a moralistic edge to it and is thoroughly entertaining. However, what failed to impress me was the narration. The imagination and the execution of such a concept was like a patched quilt of mismatched patterns, a design that didn't work for me.

If you are looking for a unique voice and a witty book with lots of dry humour and a refreshing angle to a popular classic, this could be something you might like.

[Anthony Ferner]

A bit of a curiosity. Quirky, downbeat humour about a young man who is hit by a car and pays a visit to Purgatory. Reads like a mash-up of Dante, Lewis Carroll and (of course) Milton, as reimagined by a sweary twenty-something Adrian Mole.

[Jen Tidman · Rating 4 out of 5]

What did I just read?! Milton in Purgatory is a fantastically bonkers novella about Milton Pitt, a perfectly average 26-year-old who wakes up in a hungover fug, sets off to work, dies, and begins progressing through the various stages of the afterlife.

What starts out as reading a bit like Nick Hornby-esque lad-lit, turns into the surreal silliness of Douglas Adams or Robert Rankin if they were writing The Good Place. So in other words, this was right up my street. I genuinely laughed out loud during the chapter with Tracey, the lift porter.

After one miss, this was my second hit from the Fairlight Moderns series. I'll definitely be reading more by Edward Vass.

If you like quirky, fun, philosophical, fantasy books, then definitely give this a whirl.

[Tati · Rating 4 out of 5]

Irreverent. Heartwarming. Carpe diem baby.

[Kirsty · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read around a third of this before giving up on it. The prose was fine, if a little pretentious in places, and the plot is certainly imaginative, but it was a bit too weird for my particular taste.

[Maan Kawas · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this novella, brilliant and engaging!

[Mike Futcher · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Death… Far from being a cataclysmic event, it's just another rather odd thing that has happened to me today." (pp33-4)

I'm sometimes aware that I've become a bit of a snob in recent years regarding contemporary publishing, having seen so much of its produce as either vacuous, well-marketed drivel recycled from what already sells, or elsewise a circle-jerk of vain, painstakingly-workshopped Creative Writing filtered through desperate postgraduate networks. Happily, Edward Vass' meaty novella Milton in Purgatory, published by a small indie publisher that appears to take its literary remit seriously, was a bit of a tonic in that regard. It's really rather good.

With casual references to Hemingway, the Beatles and a Liverpool FC defeat, it seemed at times like the book could have been written with myself in mind. But by any objective standard, Milton in Purgatory is worthwhile, combining comedy, metaphysics and a touch of the literary into something that is entertaining but also lightly intellectual.

The book is the circular experience of the everyman Milton Pitt, who is killed in a freak car accident and, after an interlude in which he believes he is reincarnated as a butterfly, re-awakens in his bedroom as though nothing had ever happened. Only it's not his bedroom (come on, it's not a spoiler – look at the title), and Milton undergoes an increasingly outlandish adventure that has just enough touches of comedy and mystery to keep you reading. The book has a moral heart that, if not especially profound to my mind, is dealt with just the right amount of weight by Vass (a larger book would have crushed it). It also provides plenty of bandwidth for Vass' amusing riffs on everything from reincarnation and Christian mythology to the appropriate dress code for paramedics.

Given the butterfly and the bedroom, Kafka easily comes to mind as an inspiration. So too does Dante, further afield, and John Milton (surely not a coincidence), for their explorations of Hell and the firmament. Vass doesn't reach those heights, his Milton in Purgatory instead being a more respectable incarnation of the bizarro genre, and his Milton Pitt a sort of everyday Rincewind, but these are all happy comparisons. Vass has creative ideas and can deliver an image (Milton's initial hangover upon waking "hangs to [him] like yellow on teeth" (pg. 15), whilst an avalanche of bewildering Purgatorial revelations later on sees a "classroom of raised hands in my mind" (pg. 134)). Milton in Purgatory is an enjoyable reading experience, not only when you are turning over its pages, but also afterwards, when you are anticipating what Vass may write next.

[Richard · Rating 4 out of 5]

The writing is bright and draws you in to Milton’s mediocrity. He tries to be friendly and chat to others, but he doesn’t really know what to say.

There is a problem with this type of story, it is that we have probably read it all before, encountered the religious jargon and the stereotypical language. The author embraces all these difficulties and elevates his piece to new heights of imagination and spiritual invention.
He has a funny turn of phrase and sees humour around this dark subject. While no-one touching this subject can avoid treading on toes and religious sensitivities. The author goes for it and needs recognition for his bold approach to this subject. Taking Purgatory as his model of life after death; a place for assessment and evaluation, Milton must step carefully to make sense of this new reality regardless of any specific destination in mind. The experience though is elevated by the ideas Vass brings to the documenting of Milton’s life and how God assimilates those acts before consigning one’s soul to eternity.

I loved the Cuba tie-in with Hemingway and perhaps even a doff of his literary hat to Graham Greene. This is also the seed in Milton’s life to be more adventurous and you sense this is one of the themes of the story, realising our dreams before death calls time. The other seems linked to this, when death takes away loved ones and how we cope with that loss and live on in the hope of being re-united in heaven.

I would warmly recommend this short story. Like all good literature it makes you think outside your comfort zone and presents ideas in new ways. This bodes well for this author who I would suggest has a bright future now he has been given a platform for his writing. Fairlight Books deserve credit for their approach in promoting new authors and pushing talent to a wider audience. What happens to us when we die?

A popular theme in fiction and religious thinking.

Edward Vass for his debut novella writes about this subject, when his protagonist Milton meets an untimely death.

Set in Oxford, Milton’s life has passed him by, no great successes; a dead-end job and few friends, who he can count on the fingers of both his hands.

[Buddy Gott · Rating 5 out of 5]

As I first read the book description of Milton in Purgatory, I instantly became curious about the story. I was also very intrigued by the book’s cover and I immediately had several questions. Is there something evil going on with the sharp-looking objects above the person in the chair? Speaking of which, do people get comfortable-looking chairs like that in purgatory? Also, what’s going on with that butterfly in front of that person’s obscured face? Are there butterflies in the afterlife? I’m not too keen about butterflies as it is, so will I have to continue to deal with the nasty little things after I die?

My personal feelings about butterflies aside, I decided to press on and see what this book was all about. And I’m so very glad that I did. I can honestly say that I’ve never read anything quite like Milton in Purgatory before. I mean that in the most complimentary way possible.

This is one of those books that is quite difficult to say too much about without giving away too many things about the plot. It’s a very clever and highly original story and I feel that readers of it would be best served by not knowing too much about it before they begin reading it.

And they should definitely read it. You, the person reading this review right now, you should be part of the “they” that I just mentioned. If you read Milton in Purgatory, you’re going to be experiencing some very good writing from author Edward Vass, who is an incredibly talented writer. In this book, he gives us a unique story that is all over the place. It’s funny. It’s dark. It’s surreal. It’s uplifting.

A book has to be very special for me to already want to re-read it, directly after I read it for my first time, but that’s exactly how I feel right now about Milton in Purgatory. I think it’s brilliant. I loved it.

*I received an Advanced Reading Copy of this book from Fairlight Books, via NetGalley, in exchange for a fair review.

[George1st · Rating 4 out of 5]

For certain films, plays and books it is sometimes necessary to experience them a second time in order to appreciate their full meaning and appreciate all the nuances. This was the case with Edward Vass's début novella which takes a dark twisted look at modern life and what may well lie beyond it. Milton Pitt is certainly someone who sees the glass as half empty as we encounter him waking up in his Oxford flat about to embark on another day doing a job he loathes. He has dreams of a better more adventurous life but he seems stuck in the proverbial rut. Then on his way to work he has a fatal accident while crossing the road and his bizarre and surreal afterlife adventure begins.

The humour is cleaver and acerbic and I found myself laughing out loud several times. I was instantly reminded of the 1946 classic American Christmas fantasy film It's a Wonderful Life with its guardian angel and its theme of having a chance of doing things differently a second time around. Although Milton in Purgatory may be sardonic at times it is also ultimately quite heart warming and life enhancing and is well worth a read.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Milton in Purgatory is one of ten new novellas published by Fairlight Books in their ‘Modern’ series. The cover art done by Sam Kalda is stunning and instantly grabbed my attention. Each novella will take place in a different location and showcase a new author. When fully collected, the spines make up a rainbow wave. I cannot wait to put all of them on my bookshelf. Fairlight Books has also provided reading/writing notes for each book online, making this series perfect for book clubs and analytical readers.

Edward Vass does a wonderful job introducing you to a new world in such a short amount of pages. In this story, we follow Milton Pitt on his last day alive and his journey through purgatory. Kept “alive” by a hamster, Milton discovers the afterlife is not quite what he imagined. Never ending waiting rooms, office politics, the strange obsession with knocking people out, a Beatles loving bathroom attendant, and a tentacle monster... who ever said getting to Heaven was going to be easy?

I received this e-ARC from Fairlight Books, via Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.

[Kate Sherrod · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lot of crazy originality, irreverence, grotesque imagery and banal self-reflection is packed into this tight little volume, which takes its Everyman through his death and into the beyond in the tradition, if not the form, of epic poets of yore. The best bits I cannot share here because spoiling the best bits would take away from the fun (which is why this only gets four stars from me; five star books don't require the element of surprise to be enjoyable, but without its surprises this book is a bit dull), but they are worth the slightly tedious slog to get to, and you haven't long to wait to enjoy them (in other words, the length is just right). The book works best as an allegory on the self wrestling with the demands of the ego, and enduring having the latter repeatedly cut down to size, but with bits that, while not thigh-slappers, are gently and ruefully amusing. I wouldn't recommend this book to everybody, but to those I would, I would recommend it heartily.

Note: I received an advance copy of this novella from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Katrina · Rating 4 out of 5]

A rather amusing and unexpectedly sweet book, that starts on the last day of Milton Pitt's life, but truly begins when our hero is unceremoniously knocked down by a car while on his way to a job he despises. From there on in the story transforms into a sardonic and surreal roller coaster ride, with a range of memorable, as well as madcap characters dotted along Milton's journey into the afterlife and beyond.

While the dark humour and originality throughout was terrific, what made Milton in Purgatory standout was its very real heart at the story's centre. There was some genuinely lovely commentary that felt quietly sincere within the tale, and its inclusion made it much more than simply a fun, throwaway read.

Highly recommended.

With thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the arc.

[Nicki Markus · Rating 4 out of 5]

Milton in Purgatory was a fun, amusing read. The story followed a serious of violent and eventful twists as Milton tried to come to terms with his death and afterlife, pursuing the path to his final destination. There was something decidedly British about this work too--something in the style of the dry, black humour that felt like 'home' to me. This novella was a quick, entertaining read that held my attention and kept me chuckling throughout. I would definitely read more from this author in the future, and I recommend Milton in Purgatory to readers looking for a quirky literary fiction read that can be read and enjoyed in a single sitting. A solid four stars.

I received this book as a free eBook ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Alex Clare · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was great. A mix of serious theology, surreal images and dark humour, I never knew where it was going next.

[Kristin Kraves Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a gem! Beautifully written. A unique look as what happens after we die. I'm in awe of the author's imagination.

Full RTC!

[Mandy · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is simply not my sort of book. I can see that it is original and inventive, with its sardonic black humour and its riff on John Milton and Dante, but I remained unengaged. It’s the story of Milton Pitt who is knocked down by a car on his reluctant way to work and is transported to a surreal and bizarre afterlife. His journey through Purgatory is cleverly described but I just wasn’t interested.

[Nick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this earlier this year and it was such a great book on the twists and turns of the afterlife. Really funny in places and loved the journey of Milton in the afterlife and the different characters he meets along the way.

The author has such a talent and am looking forward to his next book when it comes out. Mr Vass, please hurry up and write your next book as I am hoping it is a similar theme of life after death and the worlds beyond our planet.

[Matthew Bishop · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have to be honest, I can’t quite figure out if this is a 3 star or a 5 star.

An absolute random account following the protagonist Milton Pitt through his journey to purgatory as he cleanses his soul ready for a possible entry into heaven or hell.

Milton is a great character, (who frankly deserves a Will Carver-esque story), who meets a number of interesting souls on his journey including his Narration and a toilet cleaner with an unusual story!

Probably worth a flick as it’s only a tiny read, but I can’t recommend it whole heartedly. (Or can I?)

[Christy R · Rating 5 out of 5]

Milton in Purgatory was a fast and funny read! The concept was interesting with quirky details that allow you to sit back and enjoy the creative thought of Edward Vass.

[Chloe · Rating 3 out of 5]

He should have suffered more idc

[Angharad Dalton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Started and finished on Christmas Day. I really enjoyed this tale of second chances and making the most of your time.

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Genuinely couldn't stop reading this book. I never thought I'd read one man's journey from death to the after-life, with such an amusing and imaginative tone.
Highly recommend reading this novella!

[Alexandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading the fourth cover of Milton, I wasn't too sure what to expect. Within a few pages I was hooked. Loved the concept of the Narration, and had a really enjoyable time reading.