The Last Werewolf (The Last Werewolf, #1) Summary & Key Insights

Glen Duncan's "The Last Werewolf" follows the centuries-long life of Bill, a werewolf unlike any other. He's not a mindless beast driven by primal urges, but a sophisticated, erudite individual who, for over 500 years, has maintained a semblance of normalcy while battling his cursed transformations. The narrative unfolds primarily through Bill's first-person perspective, granting intimate access to his internal struggles and shifting perspectives.

Bill's existence is a constant dance between human and animal. During his human phases, he enjoys the finer things in life – literature, art, gourmet food, and complex relationships – though always tinged with the dread of the approaching transformation. His monstrous alter-ego, however, is remarkably intelligent and even capable of a chilling form of self-awareness. The duality is not presented as a simple good versus evil conflict, but rather a complex exploration of nature versus nurture, free will versus determinism, and the very essence of identity.

The novel opens with Bill already centuries old, living a relatively quiet life as a respected art dealer in contemporary London. He's meticulously crafted an existence where he controls his transformations, using a specially formulated cocktail of medications and extreme self-discipline. However, this carefully constructed facade begins to unravel as a mysterious organization, the "Company," becomes aware of his existence. The Company, composed of shadowy figures who've tracked werewolves for centuries, aims to capture and study Bill, viewing him as a scientific anomaly and a potential weapon.

As the Company closes in, Bill is forced to confront not only his predators but also his own mortality and the true nature of his curse. The narrative is punctuated by flashbacks that reveal crucial moments in his long life, offering glimpses into his past loves, losses, and the moral compromises he's made to survive. We see him navigate various historical periods, encountering figures both real and fictional, shaping his understanding of himself and the world.

Central to the plot is Bill's evolving relationship with the Company, particularly with a female agent who develops a complex and ultimately ambiguous connection with him. Their interactions, fuelled by mutual respect and a shared understanding of the monstrous, serve as a counterpoint to the brutal hunts he faces.

The overarching themes explore the nature of good and evil, the limits of human compassion, and the struggle for identity in the face of profound otherness. Bill's journey isn't just a fight for survival, it's a philosophical exploration of what it means to be human, even, or perhaps especially, when one is something profoundly inhuman. Ultimately, "The Last Werewolf" is a dark, witty, and surprisingly poignant exploration of a creature caught between two worlds, forced to grapple with both his monstrous and human sides.