The Pharmacist

Synopsis

The Pharmacist — a coming of age tale about love and chemistry

“The Pharmacist is a rare thing of perfection: a contemporary novella that reads like both a European classic and a page-turner. The writing is superb. Sense of place, story, insight into the human condition, gave me everything that I wanted from a work of fiction. Not five stars but an entire galaxy!” —VG Lee

"Sexy, wistful, wise, haunting and totally full of surprises. A real ride." —Nina Wadia

“A profoundly moving, tender portrait of an unexpected relationship. Justin David’s prose burns with the joy of self-discovery and the kind of dark beauty that comes from living a life outside of the shackles of ‘normality’. This is brave writing – fiercely honest and rich with integrity – from a new, exciting talent.” —Alex Hopkins, Beige Magazine

“At the heart of David's The Pharmacist is an oddly touching and bizarre love story, a modern day Harold and Maude set in the drugged-up world of pre-gentrification Shoreditch. The dialogue, especially, bristles with glorious life.” —Jonathan Kemp, author of London Triptych

"A drug-fuelled, drug-fucked, sweat and semen-drenched exploration of love and loss in the deathly hallows of twenty-first century London. Justin David's prose is as sharp as a hypodermic needle. Unflinching, uncomfortable but always compelling, The Pharmacist finds the true meaning of love in the most unlikely places." —Neil McKenna, author of Fanny and Stella

The Pharmacist is a powerful story of Billy, a young man drawn into the sphere of Albert — The Pharmacist — a compelling and damaged older man and drug dealer. As their relationship grows, fuelled by Albert's strange narratives and his endless supply of narcotics, the foundations of Billy's own life shift and change. Alive with the strange twilight times between day and night, consciousness and unconsciousness, this a story of love, of loss and alienation.

Praise for Justin David’s work

'Justin David's trilogy, Tales of the Suburbs, reveals a true writer's gift for comic and poignant storytelling, in which pithy dialogue and sharp characterisation make for compelling reading.' —Patricia Routledge

'We couldn't help but smile knowingly to this hilarious trilogy from Justin David. A delightfully witty short read.’ —GayTimes

‘Justin David's tale of working-class gay life is a bitter-sweet, beautiful thing. The audience at Polari loved it — as well they should.’ —Paul Burston, Polari Literary Salon

Can Billy find a way back from the brink? Download The Pharmacist now.

Praise for this Book

‘The Pharmacist is a rare thing of perfection: a contemporary novella that reads like both a European classic and a page-turner. The writing is superb. Sense of place, story, insight into the human condition, gave me everything that I wanted from a work of fiction. Not five stars but an entire galaxy!’ —VG Lee

‘Sexy, wistful, wise, haunting and totally full of surprises. A real ride.’ —Nina Wadia

‘A profoundly moving, tender portrait of an unexpected relationship. Justin David’s prose burns with the joy of self-discovery and the kind of dark beauty that comes from living a life outside of the shackles of ‘normality’. This is brave writing — fiercely honest and rich with integrity — from a new, exciting talent.’ —Alex Hopkins, Beige Magazine

‘At the heart of David's The Pharmacist is an oddly touching and bizarre love story, a modern day Harold and Maude set in the drugged-up world of pre-gentrification Shoreditch. The dialogue, especially, bristles with glorious life.’ —Jonathan Kemp, author of London Triptych

‘A drug-fuelled, drug-fucked, sweat and semen-drenched exploration of love and loss in the deathly hallows of twenty-first century London. Justin David's prose is as sharp as a hypodermic needle. Unflinching, uncomfortable but always compelling, The Pharmacist finds the true meaning of love in the most unlikely places.’ —Neil McKenna — Author of Fanny and Stella

Reviews of this Book

‘Justin David's trilogy, Tales of the Suburbs, reveals a true writer's gift for comic and poignant storytelling, in which pithy dialogue and sharp characterisation make for compelling reading.’ —Patricia Routledge

‘We couldn't help but smile knowingly to this hilarious trilogy from Justin David. A delightfully witty short read.’ —Gay Times

‘Justin David's tale of working-class gay life is a bitter-sweet, beautiful thing. The audience at Polari loved it — as well they should.’ —Paul Burston, Polari Literary Salon

‘Justin David's prose crackles with the broken dreams and grotesqueries of suburbia...’ —Alex Hopkins, Beige Magazine