"An astonishing novel: ambitious, pithy, beautifully written and - above all - brave enough to tackle the great, public issues of our century without pity, prurience or maudlin sentiment" (Independent)"A potent and ambitious fiction, a joy to read, and perhaps its authors best work to date" (Scotland on Sunday)"Phillips is a cool stylist whose intricately structured work builds with a slow-burning, emotional power, and here is some of his finest writing to date" (Guardian)"An extraordinarily perceptive and intelligent novel, and a haunting one" (New York Times)