Cynan Jones is a name to remember. The Dig is his fourth novel. It is an astounding piece of writing. Reading Jones one is reminded of the greats of English-language literature – Hemingway, Steinbeck or Virginia Woolf come to mind, each for different reasons. But Jones has a voice all his own. His prose is pure muscle and yet it conveys the most delicate of impressions and emotions. The Dig encompasses the best and worst of humanity. It tells the story of two men: a grieving Welsh sheep farmer and a brutal hunter involved in the illegal blood sport of badger baiting. The novel does not shy away from the horror of cruelty against animals, nor those moments which are unknowable, just before a life is extinguished. Yet it is most haunting when capturing what remains unsaid, as nature and life continue in the landscape of the human heart.
The Dig
by Cynan Jones
Granta, 2014
An edited version of this book mark was first published in the Cape Times on 5 December 2014.
Karina Magdalena 
This is a lovely little review. I like how the piece is short yet conveys everything the potential reader would need to know about The Dig without giving too much away. I particularly enjoy the line ‘his prose is pure muscle’! You have a lovely writing style, Karina. I look forward to reading more. (And thanks for following my blog too!)
Thank you for your kind words about my writing. I cannot recommend The Dig highly enough. It is an astounding book. I look forward to reading more of your Tiny Tales.