Press Release

Adapted from Jesús Carrasco’s bestselling novel, Out in the Open tells of a young boy who flees a town ruled by violence and ravaged by drought. He escapes across an inhospitable, arid landscape without food or water, hunted by a merciless gang of townsfolk. One night, he encounters an old goatherd who offers him a chance of survival. But he can’t fix the traumatic scars left by a violent past.

Illustrated by Barcelona-based Javi Rey, Out in the Open is a compelling dystopian tale of humanity set in an unnamed country. Cinematic in scope and economical with narrative, it explores the impact of domestic violence with sympathy and intelligence. Jesús Carrasco’s original novel, Out In The Open was described by Times Literary Supplement as a “tale told with savage precision,” while The NewYorkTimes called it “[a] bleak and beautiful debut.” It won him the prestigious European Union Prize for Literature in 2016.

About the authors

Javi Rey was born in Brussels but grew up Barcelona where he is still living. After graduating from university, he studied at the prestigious Catalan Illustration school Escola Joso. He is the author of Adelante (written by Frank Giroud) and Un Maillot pour l‘Algérie.

Jesús Carresco was born in Badajoz, Spain and now lives in Edinburgh. Out In The Open, his debut novel, was published in over 20 countries.