The Theory of Everything

‘In The Theory of Everything, Kassab realises the potential and fulfils the promise of her earlier work. This is a writer at her intellectual and poetic peak. Innovative, ambitious, unapologetically intellectual, fearlessly honest, deeply emotional. Read this book – you will be changed.’ – Shankari Chandran, Miles Franklin–award winning author of Chai Time at Cinnamon Gardens

Good News: The worst has already happened.
Bad News: Even worse is on the way.

This is a fictional theory, a rant, a manifesto, an engagement or disengagement with the times, a record; it is bearing witness, a dramatisation of actual events, a horror-scape, either a monologue or dialogue, a testament, travel guide, handbook, textbook, potential encyclopaedia; it is five mini-novels or else five post-novels, an epic, a drop in the ocean, an homage, a reference, one long secret handshake, an agreement, a wink; it is an explosion of form, tangential, discursive, a firming of the foundations, a lament, an absurdist comedy with realism that is as realistic as it gets; it is a spectrum, shades of black from the dark to the next shade up from white, a proliferation, a step back, a righting, a note to oneself, a line in the sand or a gust in the form of a structure-shaking gale; it is a dance (a two-footed, single-person linedance), an experiment, pure science, flicking the finger; it is, of course, backing away, crossing the street and avoiding eye contact; it is fantasy, humour, a romance without any leads, a defiance, a subdued rebellion, an anti-philosophical philosophy; it is pacifism that instigates a fight, a denouncement in the form of a laugh, an exploration, an adventure, a time lapse, a panorama, a conclusion; you may just have to read the theory because these are just alluding-to-the-theory words.

PRAISE FOR THE THEORY OF EVERYTHING

‘Kassab tackles almost everything, from gender and social inequality to love and war, and whatever else it is, this is stylish and searching writing, with an exquisite command of language holding fast through unstable experimentation with form.’ –Sydney Morning Herald

‘Like the philosopher who is freed from the cave and can see the truth, Kassab exposes the flaws in our thinking. If a novel’s purpose is to reflect our world, this post-novel’s purpose appears to be to encourage us to question that world, to think differently, to see beyond the shadows.’ –The Conversation

‘Kassab has written fireworks into these pages.’ –The Guardian

‘ambitious in scope and style’ –Big Issue

‘Kassab’s book poses questions about the novel form and answers them in ways that are continuously surprising and probing. It is both personal and expansive; introspective and ambitious.’ – Kylie Mirmohamadi, author Diving, Falling

PRAISE FOR POLITICA

‘Like an impressionist painter, Kassab uses words like brushstrokes to build a vivid picture of intertwined lives set against the continuing drumbeat of war. The narrative moves between past, present and future and uses time as an effective device to illustrate how the effects of war linger long after its cessation.’ – Books + Publishing

‘an evocative literary tale’ – The Australian Women's Weekly

‘In a 2022 interview, Kassab said a responsibility of the novelist is to “write with an eye towards humanity”. And she never falters in this, with Politica always drawing us back to war’s immeasurable personal cost.’ – The Guardian

PRAISE FOR THE LOVERS

‘Sometimes, Kassab shows us, love can be another word for cruelty. Sometimes the stories we hide behind reveal our deepest truths.’ – Sydney Morning Herald

‘Beautifully told in Yumna Kassab's poetic prose, The Lovers is both the story of the tumultuous relationship between Amir and Jamila and an exploration of class, culture and the complex nature of love.’ – Sunday Life

 

‘This is a fascinating literary artefact; a record of one singular, brilliant, energetic mind at large in the world and travelling across global literature. Kassab’s book poses questions about the novel form and answers them in ways that are continuously surprising and probing. It is both personal and expansive; introspective and ambitious. Its shifting, sifting categorisations give it a richness that will make it something to return to again and again.’ Kylie Mirmohamadi, author Diving, Falling
'honestly, it’s a delight to see a writer willing to push the boundaries so far, and to be so unconcerned with palatability...In this bold, electrifying experiment, Yumna Kassab refuses to perform.' The Guardian

Yumna Kassab is a writer based in Sydney. She is the author of The House of Youssef, Australiana, The Lovers, Politica and The Theory of Everything. Her books have been listed for prizes including the Miles Franklin Literary Award, Prime Minister’s Literary Awards, Victorian Premier’s Literary Awards, Queensland Literary Awards, NSW Premier’s Literary Awards, and the Stella Prize. She is the inaugural Parramatta Laureate in Literature.
A complete list of her writings can be found at yumnakassab.com

This item is eligible for free returns within 30 days of delivery. See our returns policy for further details.