'Jan Carson is a born storyteller: her work is so imaginative, whimsical, mischievous and brave, but tender and curious too - you never know where she's going to take you next, so reading her is always an adventure. Exactly how it should be.' LISA MCINERNEY, author of THE GLORIOUS HERESIES
------
In sixteen sparkling stories, Jan Carson introduces us to worlds and characters that feel real enough to touch. All of life is here: the thrill of growing up, the grief when youth is over; first love, mature love, parenthood and loss - all shot through with profound compassion, warm wit, and boundless imagination.
In 'A Certain Degree of Ownership', a distracted couple on a beach fail to notice their baby crawl perilously towards the sea. In 'Troubling the Water', a rumour spreads at a public swimming pool and chaos ensues. In 'Fair Play' a dishevelled father loses his two sons in an adventure park.
Every so often, an irresistible suggestion of the other world will surprise and delight, reaffirming Carson as a thrillingly original and audacious talent, and making Quickly, While They Still Have Horses the perfect introduction for readers new to her work.



![Jan Carson PREORDER NONFICTION New Jan Carson: Children's Children [2025] paperback](http://chaptersbookstore.com/cdn/shop/files/jan-carson-jan-carson-children-s-children-2025-paperback-9781804995822-60691214664019_{width}x.jpg?v=1736396587)
![Carson, Jan PREORDER FICTION New Jan Carson: Few and Far Between [2026]](http://chaptersbookstore.com/cdn/shop/files/carson-jan-jan-carson-few-and-far-between-2026-9781529936766-1198755078_{width}x.jpg?v=1761051559)
![Jan Carson PREORDER FICTION New Carson Jan: Quickly, While They Still Have Horses [2025] paperback](http://chaptersbookstore.com/cdn/shop/files/jan-carson-carson-jan-quickly-while-they-still-have-horses-2025-paperback-9781804993170-61029007294803_{width}x.jpg?v=1737707878)
![Carson, Jan FICTION HARDBACK New Jan Carson: The Last Resort [2021] hardback](http://chaptersbookstore.com/cdn/shop/files/carson-jan-jan-carson-the-last-resort-2021-hardback-9781781620618-1127286496_{width}x.jpg?v=1738884182)
