OFFERING a panoramic view of the lives of those who capitalism either disregards or openly vilifies, The Single Feather tells the story of Rachel, a young woman with disabilities, who dramatically escapes from an unexplained house arrest.

Settling in Carthom, an English town suffering from austerity as public services are cut and foodbanks open, she joins the local art group in a bid to alleviate her isolation.

Writer RF Hunt skilfully dissects the contradictions within the group to point up the self-defeating ways in which the most vulnerable in society define themselves against each other, rather than the rich and powerful who despise them all.

When not openly antagonistic towards those with disabilities who are on benefits, some of the older members struggle perplexedly over negative reactions to their use of outmoded language and attitudes.

Yet The Single Feather — the book’s title is a reference to loneliness — is essentially an optimistic work that believes passionately that if we truly spend time to get to know each other, we will see that there is more that brings us together than separates us.

Hunt displays impressive authorial confidence in a book that moves at a largely patient pace as an understanding of the daily triumphs and setbacks that characterise Rachel’s life gradually accumulates.

But it also contains enough surprises to disturb any sense of complacency.

In giving a central voice to those who have either been ignored or treated as mere victims in most works of fiction, this is a welcome and mould-breaking debut novel.

Paul Simon