Kae Tempest

A wonderful, moving and enlightening state-of-Britain novel stuffed with memorable characters, depicting an individual’s struggle for self-realization in a society punitive to those who refuse to stand in its prescribed boxes

They were coming back to life. They were free and getting freer. 
 
The heart-breaking, soul-building new novel about the transformative power of love, from the Sunday Times-bestselling Kae Tempest 
 
Rothko Taylor has washed up with the tide, back in their hometown, Edgecliff. Fifteen years since they left it behind. 
 
The past is accelerating towards them: the skateboard kids on the high street that remind them of their teenage years, the splintered benches looking out to sea, where their mum Meg clutched her cans. The nice bit of town, where their dad Ezra tried and failed to build a happy home. And Dionne's block. Beautiful, extraordinary Dionne, the only person who had ever looked at them and seen what was there. 
 
Back then, overwhelmed and full of fear, they sank beneath the surface into chaos. But they made it out alive. And this time, Rothko is determined that things will be different. 
 
Tempest's first novel in a decade, Having Spent Life Seeking is about family and forgiveness; redemption and atonement; desire and abandon; selfhood and community. The things we seek when we are hiding, and what finds us, if we can let ourselves be seen. 
Praise for Kae Tempest 
 
‘An authentically soothing, powerful thought-provoker’ Matt Haig 
 
‘A truth-speaker’ Max Porter 
 
'Powerful and merciful' Ali Smith

Having Spent Life Seeking

About us

About Us (Header 4)

Best-Jane-Austen-quotes_Online-Desktop_Penguin

James-Baldwin

Marian-Keyes

haruki-murakami-320×320-1

Richard-Osman

Malorie Blackman

Lisa-Jewell

Charlie-Mackesy

Authors (Header 3)

Children&#039;s

Company

Discover

Fiction

Non-fiction

Penguin Classics

Penguin Shop (Header 5)

Useful links

Work with us

Penguin Shop: 15% off with code PENGUINXMAS2025

White Nights

Little Black Classics Box Set

Penguin Modern Box Set

Frankenstein

Kae Tempest

Praise for Having Spent Life Seeking

A wonderful, moving and enlightening state-of-Britain novel stuffed with memorable characters, depicting an individual’s struggle for self-realization in a society punitive to those who refuse to stand in its pre ...

Follow penguin

Follow ladybird

Follow puffin

Sign up to the Penguin newsletter