Author(s): John Banville

General Fiction

'Fable, intellectual thriller, Gothic extravaganza, symbolist conundrum ...a true work of art' - "Sunday Independent". Is there a numerical solution to the quest for the meaning of life? A brilliant reworking of the classic Dr Faustus theme, "Mefisto" focuses on the mathematically gifted Gabriel Swan, who seeks a numerical solution to his quest for order and meaning in life. '"Mefisto" renders all superlatives woefully inadequate ...Undisputed master of language, the laconic pause and the blackly comic, Banville is a supreme stylist ...He is a magician ...Another expectedly astonishing and very daring display from this richly, almost wickedly, gifted artist' - "Time Out". 'An excellent novel, beautifully written. The sort of thing you have to read more than once - wonderful stuff' - "Punch". 'Few writers in Ireland today can arouse such expectation by the advent of a new novel ...A profound beauty of words displayed by their lover ...Banville's great enterprise does not falter ...read "Mefisto" straight through; it deserves it' - "Irish Times".