"The narrative casts a mesmeric spell... intelligent, beautifully written, heartfelt and true, and a great book" Sunday Times "I would rather have written Ford Madox Ford's novel than all the books I have written. After reading it a dozen times, I still find a mystery at its heart... an exercise in elegance and a triumph of structure. I am always imitating it and always failing. The prose makes my heart ache with envy" -- Ruth Rendell Guardian "An astounding novel" The Times "Sometimes the best presents come in small packages...masterful" Daily Telegraph "A central figure, artistically and influentially, in the modern movement...a masterpiece of Impressionism, as well as of intricate plotting, technical manipulation and powerful irony" Guardian