Pond Life

Bumbling British graduate Tom Toft is a man without a plan. Struggling gallantly with his own antipathy, he stumbles into a doctorate in political philosophy at a prestigious American university, determined to find his purpose in life. When, in an uncharacteristic moment of luck, Tom secures a scholarship from an obscure philanthropic organisation, suddenly his future is looking bright across the pond.

The result of the 2016 presidential election galvanises Tom to put theory into practice by joining the political activism sweeping campus, through which he finally finds a purpose – and a girlfriend. But before long fate steps in and the budding progressive’s life is thrown into chaos through a series of unfortunate and publicly humiliating events.

Will this modern-day Adrian Mole ever make it out from underneath his desk?

Witty and thought-provoking in equal measure, Pond Life is a satire of contemporary academia that questions the institutionalisation of privilege and highlights the dangers of unequal power.

Jack R. Williams grew up on the south coast of England before studying Politics with International Relations at the University of York. Jack has written two full-length plays Life for Life and The Shrink's Cabinet the latter of which was selected for the FriScenes International Theatre Festival. His first short film Train of Thought has been shown at a number of international festivals. This is his first novel.