Barnes's first foray into historical fiction. Meticulous, precise if a bit slow of pace, intelligible, interesting, clever and very English.

A comedy of manners with a prose style that veers between deadpan and florid metaphors, which doesn't quite make up for the lack of plot. Work of an erudite writer who has nothing much to write about.

A literary whodunit, pullulating with caricaturusque historical characters, with liberal dollops of kindergarten psychology, and preposterous ending. It’s all silly, but it’s an easy read.

Story of an English middle class family unravelling in the face of a crisis. Brilliant in patches, but the tone of the narrative is uneven. A good book, but that’s about it.

This gothic tale has it all: murder; incest; suicide; insanity; histories of the Fens, land reclamation, and river Ouse; nature of phlegm; and a discourse on the sex lives of eels!

An epic, endearing and tragic-comic tale of friendship which is also a fascinating account of the dawn of the American comics industry. The rich, gorgeous, lyrical prose adds to the reader’s pleasure.

An autobiographical picaresque depicting the demi-monde life of Bukowaski’s alter ego Chinaski. Incredibly honest & immensely readable.

Stylistic with multi-layered plot, and many a twist & turn, at its core this is a simple story of love & loss. Told with great craft.

The delicate story of a love affair between an adolescent and a slightly older, married woman. The style is so assured that it’s difficult to believe that Radiguet was only 17 when he wrote it.

This cheerful novel is to be enjoyed in the context of its times: upper middle class English in the second decade of the 19th century. Brilliantly written, sharply observed, and very funny in parts.