The Nerve

One August bank holiday, Ted Johnson wakes to a day of reckoning - with his past in Cumberland, his present in London and his fantasies. An inflamed nerve troubles his eye as he veers between elation and despair, overwhelmed by the noise and bustle of the streets, unable to connect even with a visiting girlfriend. Written in 1971, Melvyn Bragg's sixth novel draws a remarkable portrait of a man's courageous fight to keep his mental balance and regain a sense of identity amid the stress and intoxication of modern city life.

“'Since his first novel, Melvyn Bragg's talent has grown until he has now achieved utter truthfulness'”

It is an extraordinary blend of delicacy and harsh simplicity which makes Melvyn Bragg a remarkable novelist - The Times

Since his first novel, Melvyn Bragg s talent has grown until he has now achieved utter truthfulness - Sunday Telegraph

A graceful and confident writer - Observer

An effortless writer. He never strains for effect, simply achieves it - Sunday Times

It is an extraordinary blend of delicacy and harsh simplicity which makes Melvyn Bragg a remarkable novelist - The Times

Since his first novel, Melvyn Bragg's talent has grown until he has now achieved utter truthfulness - Sunday Telegraph

A graceful and confident writer - Observer

An effortless writer. He never strains for effect, simply achieves it - Sunday Times

Melvyn Bragg's first novel, FOR WANT OF A NAIL, was published in 1965 and since then his novels have included THE HIRED MAN, for which he won the Time/Life Silver Pen Award, WITHOUT A CITY WALL, winner of the John Llewellyn Rhys Prize, THE SOLDIER'S RETURN, which won the WHSmith Literary Award, and A SON OF WAR and CROSSING THE LINES, both of which were longlisted for the Booker Prize, and his most recent novel REMEMBER ME... He has also written several works of non-fiction including THE ADVENTURE OF ENGLISH and 12 BOOKS THAT CHANGED THE WORLD.

One August bank holiday, Ted Johnson wakes to a day of reckoning - with his past in Cumberland, his present in London and his fantasies. An inflamed nerve troubles his eye as he veers between elation and despair, overwhelmed by the noise and bustle of the streets, unable to connect even with a visiting girlfriend. Written in 1971, Melvyn Bragg's sixth novel draws a remarkable portrait of a man's courageous fight to keep his mental balance and regain a sense of identity amid the stress and intoxication of modern city life.

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