Short History of Richard Kline

I woke with a gasp. And lay in the dark, open-mouthed, holding my breath. That feeling . . . that feeling was indescribable. For a moment I had felt as if I were falling . . . falling into bliss.All his life, Richard Kline has been haunted by a sense that something is lacking. He envies the ease with which others slip into contented suburban life or the pursuit of wealth. As he moves into middle age, Richard grows angry, cynical, depressed.But then a strange event, a profound epiphany, awakens him to a different way of life. He finds himself on a quest, almost against his will, to resolve the divine discontent he has suffered since childhood. From pharmaceuticals to New Age therapies to finding a guru, Richards journey dramatises the search for meaning in todays world.This audacious novel is an exploration of masculinity, the mystical and our very human yearning for something more. It is hypnotic, nuanced and Amanda Lohreys finest offering yet a pilgrims progress for the here and now.Shortlisted, 2015 Queensland Literary Awards and the 2015 Tasmanian Premiers Literary PrizesLonglisted, 2016 Stella Prize