The Shadow Boxer by Steven Heighton

The Shadow Boxer

Steven Heighton

The first part of this is difficult and slow as the narrative jumps back and forward in time but do persevere - there is a good story in there and the last part is a riveting 'unputdownable' depiction of man against the elements.

Extract
Cavalry. Calvary .... Both ways drew him. Be the lone man on the cross on Calvary, naked and saintly .... Be the man among men on a warhorse with the Roman cavalry under the cross .... Nowadays when he sparred with his father he would feel an urge ... to knock him down - and at the same time an aching desire to cradle that great, sad, battered head in his hands.
Parallels
  • Call of the Wild by Jack London
  • A Perfect Storm by Sebastian Junger