Backstory Talks: Seth Insua
By Kit Macdonald
Seth Insua is an Anglo-Spanish writer and artist whose debut novel, Human, Animal, has established him as an exciting new voice in contemporary British fiction. Born in Kent in 1989, he gained a first in English Language and Literature at Oxford, and before publishing his first novel was shortlisted for the Bridport Prize and The London Magazine Short Story Competition.
Published in 2025, Human, Animal centres on a struggling dairy farming family whose internal conflicts are intensified by animal-rights activism, generational tensions and questions of identity. Through multiple perspectives and timelines, the novel examines family loyalty, sexuality, tradition, belonging and the search for common ground in an increasingly polarised society. This will be a rare chance to hear Insua speak about the book, his writing process and the stories behind it, and will be followed by an open Q&A. RSVP on the Backstory website.