The Earth, Thy Great Exchequer, Ready Lies

by Jo Lloyd

'A major talent' Hilary Mantel

Shortlisted for the Edge Hill Short Story Prize

Whether seeking knowledge, riches, or a better life, the characters in these stories are united by a quest for lasting value, as they ask how we should treat our world, our work, our selves, and each other. A vainglorious mine owner dreams of harnessing all of nature to the machinery of commerce. Two ladies of a certain age hunt rare butterflies in a pre-First World War Europe already experiencing the first bites of biodiversity loss. A climate campaigner must choose between personal happiness and political action. A rural Welsh community is fascinated and angered by glimpses of its invisible, wealthy neighbours.

Exact and lyrical, compassionate, and full of wit and truth, this debut collection from Jo Lloyd, winner of the BBC National Short Story Award, announces a fresh new voice with a sensibility all her own.

Genres: Short Stories, Fiction

224 pages, Hardcover

Published February 4, 2021

Reviews

[Ben Pester · Rating 5 out of 5]

This collection has stayed with me for weeks after reading. Jo Lloyd has won the BBC Short Story prize, and I think this collection is one of the best endorsements of a literary prize. Every story is written with such close, intricate attention to detail - reading it is like being in the presence of a fine tapestry. The big picture is always gorgeous and moving, and looking closely makes you wonder how it was achieved by a single artist. I can’t recommend this collection enough for anyone who enjoys the sheer skill of the craft of storytelling. Or for anyone who simply wants to be transported, over and over again, all over the many versions and timelines of this world.

[Debs Cooper · Rating 5 out of 5]

My creative writing MA class read this as part of a list of set texts in the Writing Now category (as in recently published) and we all agreed how much we enjoyed it.
The resounding feeling we came away with was that of warmth, connection and humanity.
Whilst reading each story I could see everything being played out in my mind's eye; a true testament to a writer's skill of the craft.
Characters were well-drawn, beautifully depicted and each one's narrative fully rounded. The dialogue was authentic and believable.
I still think about the characters in some of these stories today and it's been a few weeks since we read it. Jo Lloyd was also lovely enough to pop in (on Zoom) during our session and answered all our writerly queries with kindness, patience and interest, displaying a great deal of passion for what she does.
Hugely recommended. Even if you're not a 'story story' type.

[Juliano · Rating 5 out of 5]

“We all follow the path we have chosen”. Jo Lloyd’s phenomenally titled The Earth, Thy Great Exchequer, Ready Lies, is a suitably exquisite collection of short stories, lyrical and sharp, “the dream of a tide that never fell but only kept rising”. The stories all vary: a man lost at sea, a family history sprouting in his wake; a young woman dreams of making a life in London, surrounded by the blind privilege of obnoxious housemates; a poor rural community becomes obsessed with their purported wealthy neighbours, who may or may not exist (there being little difference either way); dysfunctional people fuck up their dysfunctional relationships; a young man spends a long lifetime reeling from his father abandoning him; a cruel and menial job exposes work as “The Dope of the Masses”; two elderly women make an expedition to the Balkans hunting for rare butterflies; an environmental activist takes charge of his own life; an olden-time miner finds himself unwittingly running a pyramid scheme as he yearns to expand, to utilise all the earth and its resources to his gain. Lloyd writes with such biting humour, and a rare emotional acuity, that each sentence is both vital and a gift, each thought so perfectly placed, timely and original. “I want, I want. There’s the sound of the icecaps melting.”

[kelly!! · Rating 5 out of 5]

lloyd’s writing is dialled back but meticulous, and yet flowing with an ease that breathes life into every narrative. it’s a collection tied not by genre nor theme, but by the pervasive sense of dissatisfaction and yearning, in the best way possible. ‘the human condition’, maybe. it’s quiet and concise yet powerful. a good summer read

[Claudia Dominguez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful mix of tales of all kinds of flavor. There is power in every single sentence, perfectly intertwined within the stories.

[Malcolm Dixon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great stories, fabulous writing, genuine art.

[Rincle Tinkle · Rating 4 out of 5]

A diverse and delightful gathering of finely manicured tales.