Supporting Act

Supporting Act

by Agnes Lidbeck

£12.99

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The social contract is not negotiated at an individual level. It is a universal set of rules that must be followed for society to function. The contract stipulates that the individual, henceforth known as The Woman, is required to play three roles. The Woman must be a mother. The Woman must be desirable. The Woman must be a caregiver.

When Anna gives birth, she takes on a new role. Everything is centred around her children. As her marriage collapses, she begins an affair with an aging author, only to find herself once again in the role of caregiver. Supporting Act is the study of a woman who lives her life for others, according to the rules.

Translated from Swedish by Nichola Smalley.

192pp, paperback with flaps, £12.99
ISBN: 978-1-916806-08-5
Publication date: 2 July 2025

Press & Reviews

‘In my years as a literary critic I have rarely come across anything like it. Supporting Act is a sensational debut.’
– Expressen

'Agnes Lidbeck has written a sharp and haunting debut.’
– Kulturnytt, Radio P1

'Sometimes you come across real gems: books that are interesting, well-written, and well- balanced between linguistic style and an engaging story. Rarely, do they come from debut writers. Lidbeck’s debut novel, about women’s roles and self-realization, is an exception.’
– Borås Tidning

‘A powerful novel about submission.’
– Vi Läser Magazine

About The Book

Author

Agnes Lidbeck is one of Sweden’s most prominent and versatile contemporary writers. She made her literary debut with Supporting Act in 2017, which was shortlisted for the Svenska Dagbladet Prize and won the Borås Tidning Debut Novel Prize. She went on to write Förlåten (‘Forgiven’, 2018), Gå förlorad (‘Get Lost’, 2019), Nikes bok (‘Nike's Book’, 2021) and All min kärlek (‘All my Love’, 2023). Lidbeck also writes for the stage and is known for her sharp, minimalist style.

Translator

Nichola Smalley is a translator of Swedish and Norwegian literature. Her translation of Andrzej Tichý’s Wretchedness won the 2021 Oxford-Weidenfeld Prize and was shortlisted for the Bernard Shaw and International Booker Prizes. Her translation of A System So Magnificent It Is Blinding by Amanda Svensson was longlisted for the International Booker Prize 2023.

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