Faith, Hope and Carnage

Faith, Hope and Carnage is an extended conversation between Nick Cave and Observer journalist, Seán O’Hagan, who have known one another for thirty years. Created from over forty hours of intimate recordings, the book examines questions of faith, art, music, freedom, grief and love. It draws candidly on Cave’s life, from his early childhood to the present day, his loves, his work ethic and his dramatic transformation in recent years. From a place of considered reflection, Faith, Hope and Carnage offers ladders of hope and inspiration from a true creative visionary.

The audiobook, narrated by Nick Cave and Seán O’Hagan, and directed and produced by Iain Forsyth and Jane Pollard, features sixteen musical codas and elements from Carnage, Skeleton Tree and Ghosteen and includes an exclusive 12-minute conversation between Nick Cave and Seán O’Hagan.

‘Astonishing… This beautiful book is a lament, a celebration, a howl, a secular prayer, a call to arms, a meditation and an exquisite articulation of the human condition. It will take your breath away.’ – Observer

‘This is a book about the freedom attained from understanding that life is precarious. Everyday carnage has brought forth a book of hope and freedom and life. *****’ – Telegraph

‘Illuminating . . . If it meets a need for Cave, it also feels like a gift to the reader’ – Sunday Times 

‘Unerringly frank, self-interrogative and insightful’ – Guardian

‘Remarkably candid . . . One of Cave’s greatest skills is to bring a secular eye to the religious and a religious eye to the secular, the sacred and the profane intertwined’ – New Statesman

‘The reveals come thick and fast, as does the wisdom. Meanwhile, the insight into Cave’s songwriting is profound, and he is thoughtful on the contrast, thematically and structurally, between then and now. *****’ – MOJO ‘Music Book of the Year’

‘Cave’s humour and insight into the human condition shine through. … Down in the darkness is a kind of consolation too.’ – Uncut

‘A book that’ll stay with you forever’ – Stylist