In spring of 2011 a young Australian man travels to the USA. It is a quest of sorts a quest as old as narrative itself: a young man striking out from home in search of experience and culture which he associates with that talismanic word America. Beginning in the excessive uncanny-familiar glamour and plenitude of New York City Will crashes with expat chef and former nemesis Paul and his girlfriend Justine a rising star in the art scene. From here he embarks on a doomed road trip into the American heartland where he meets Wayne Gage. This charismatic fast-living and deeply damaged Vietnam veteran collector of exotic animals and would-be spirit guide draws Will towards the dark conclusion of his journey. Wild Abandon is a headlong tumble through the falling world of end-days capitalism a haunting hyperreal snapshot of our own strange times and what it means to be a tourist or indeed a human within them. 'Emily Bitto writes superbly textured prose granular with detail. Here is her sumptuous freewheeling riff on the getting of wisdom. Wild Abandon is thrilling and heartbreaking by turns - a glorious novel.' - Michelle de Kretser twice winner of the Miles Franklin Literary Award for Questions of Travel and The Life to Come.
