Synopsis
Fire Horses is the story of Joe Noone, a degenerate and enthusiastic explorer of the gutter, and his confused relationships with his friends and the women in his life. The novel examines England over the last 25 years through the eyes and lens of one disturbed individual, showing the country’s back streets, small towns and sleazy metropolitan underbelly.
Laced with dark humour and angry political asides, Fire Horses is an unflinching lesson in modern history. An epic love story about ‘ordinary’ people, the novel demonstrates that the recording of history is no longer the preserve of the victors.
What they said about Fire Horses
“Reading Fire Horses is like riding pillion on a motorbike driven by a poet”
– Jonathan Trigell, author, Boy A.
“As a debut novel it shines, both in the quality of the writing and the insights into mankind and modern history”
– Mike French, “View from Here” magazine (USA).
“Passionate, powerful, poetic – a fine debut from an original talent”
– John King, author, The Football Factory.
“Piggott’s debut novel is a plausible evocation of seamy ‘80s life viewed through the prism of complicated male friendship. Piggott’s eye for social detail is acute, and his love for his characters shines through”
– John O’Connell, Time Out Magazine.
“Fire Horses charges headlong down the tracks, unperturbed by the approaching train. This is where respect to
– Frank Mask website
What is a fire horse?
There are sixty years in the lunar cycle; the Chinese have twelve animals to represent their birth signs, and five basic elements. As recently as the Sixties those unfortunates due to be born under the sign of the “fire horse” were aborted in the Far East because when fire horse met fire horse, there was a chance the apocalypse was coming. If you were born, as were the principal characters of this book (and a million others in the UK alone) between 21st January 1966 and 8th February 1967, you’re a fire horse too. Good luck – you might need it…
