Aristotle's Cuttlefish Launch Party With Matthew Dooley

Matthew Dooley's first long form comic, Flake, told us a tale of warring ice cream vans in the seaside town of Dobbiston, that delighted us so much it made it into our Gosh! Best of the Year list! This accolade should surely suffice, but Flake was also the winner of 2020 Bollinger Everyman Wodehouse Prize and also a Guardian Book of the Year. Dooley's next comic set in the same fictional setting as Flake is out in June and we can't wait to dive back into Matthew's impeccable cartooning and signature humour. To celebrate, we'll be hosting the launch party for Aristotle's Cuttlefish on Thursday 5th June 2025, from 7-9pm.

Back in 2020, we planned to host the launch party for Flake, which was one of the many events unfortunately was cancelled at the start of the pandemic. So we're elated to welcome Matthew back to the shop and celebrate another entry in the Dooley Verse! Here's what publishers Jonathan Cape, say about Aristotle's Cuttlefish:

A story about mislaid umbrellas, questionable scientific theories and unlikely friendship - from the author of Flake, winner of the 2020 Bollinger Everyman Wodehouse Prize

Where do all the lost things go?

In Dobbiston, they'll likely end up in the care of Mr Daniels, the long-time custodian of the local lost property office. Somewhere deep in the bowels of the town council's shabby premises he has spent a lifetime quietly cataloguing the carelessness of his fellow Dobbiston residents.

But when something unexpected interrupts his routine, Mr Daniels is forced to embrace a little bit of life's chaos.

Told through Lost Property Office vignettes - a snooker cue love story, a granny’s tea cosy and a kid’s toy on an intergalactic adventure – local histories are elevated to the momentous and profound, drawn with playful nostalgia and Dooley’s deadpan wit.

Meet Matthew Dooley and get a copy of his new comic signed on Thursday 5th June, from 7pm. We'll also have an exclusive signed bookplate to accompany all sales of the comic! You can pre-order the bookplate edition from our website for mail-order or collection by clicking the link here.

Keep up to date with all news over on our Facebook event page.