The Unworthy: A Novel

Synopsis

From the author of the international sensation Tender Is the Flesh comes a haunting work of literary horror set in a world devastated by climate collapse. Hidden within the walls of a secretive religious order, an unnamed woman survives as one of the "unworthy," dutifully serving the convent's rigid hierarchy while secretly recording her thoughts in a diary written with whatever materials she can find—even dirt and blood. When a mysterious newcomer arrives, buried memories begin to surface, forcing her to question the beliefs that have governed her life and the terrible truth behind those deemed "Enlightened."

Bleak, lyrical, and deeply unsettling, The Unworthy is a powerful meditation on fanaticism, environmental catastrophe, and the human longing for hope in the face of brutality. Agustina Bazterrica once again blends psychological intensity with visceral horror, crafting a novel that is both terrifying and profoundly thought-provoking.

About the Author

Agustina Bazterrica is an Argentine novelist and short story writer whose work has been translated into more than thirty languages. Her novel Tender Is the Flesh became an international bestseller, won the Clarín Novel Prize, and established her as one of the leading voices in contemporary literary horror. The Unworthy, translated from the Spanish by Sarah Moses, continues her exploration of violence, power, and the fragile boundaries of human morality.

Publisher

Scribner

Publication Date

March 4, 2025

Format

Paperback

Pages

192

Subjects

Literary Fiction · Literary Horror · Dystopian Fiction · Climate Fiction · Fiction in Translation · Argentine Literature

ISBN

9781668051887