The social contract is non-negotiable. The woman must be a mother. The woman must be desirable. The woman must be a caregiver.
When Anna gives birth, she surrenders completely to motherhood, reshaping her body, identity and purpose, shielding herself from the burden of her own desires. But as her marriage crumbles and her children grow independent, she needs a new role. An affair with an ageing writer, Ivan, offers her a new narrative, a way to rewrite herself. But no role lasts forever, and sooner or later Anna must confront the woman beneath the performance.
Translated from Swedish by Nichola Smalley.
‘A powerhouse novel about the construction and execution of female identity. In its pages, motherhood, marriage and the very notion of care are meticulously deconstructed. What a writer Agnes Lidbeck is – bold, blisteringly intelligent, deliciously playful.’
– Katie Kitamura, author of Audition and Intimacies
‘Taut, restrained, fiercely frank, Agnes Lidbeck's SUPPORTING ACT is a feminist tour de force.’
– Claire Messud, author of This Strange Eventful History
‘Perfectly captures the feminised dream-state of caring – and living – for others.’
– Stephanie Sy-Quia, author of A Private Man and Amnion
‘In my years as a literary critic I have rarely come across anything like it. Supporting Act is a sensational debut.’
– Expressen
'Agnes Lidbeck has written a sharp and haunting debut.’
– Kulturnytt, Radio P1
'Sometimes you come across real gems: books that are interesting, well-written, and well- balanced between linguistic style and an engaging story. Rarely, do they come from debut writers. Lidbeck’s debut novel, about women’s roles and self-realization, is an exception.’
– Borås Tidning
‘A powerful novel about submission.’
– Vi Läser Magazine
