“Absolutely worth the detour”

“An affectionate look at the perils of growing old, this is wonderfully original, witty and discreetly political and was a major success in Italy and France, although the author lives in London. Absolutely worth the detour, a delightful novel like no other around”

Maxim Jakubowski, Lovereading

“A big, bold book about the fear of aging and the true nature of heroism”

“Framed as an erotic murder mystery, this is a big, bold book about the fear of aging and the true nature of heroism. It’s also a sly take on contemporary celebrity culture, in which people once considered super human are reduced to staging fake rescue attempts or performing tricks on tacky TV shows. Nothing lasts forever, Mangassola reminds us – not even Batman and Robin”

Paul Burston, Time out

“A political fable about contemporary America, written by an Italian author who lives in London.”

Les Echos

“A deeply moving novel, and a fierce critique of the contemporary world.”

Vogue it

“A brilliant combination of narrative elements as diverse as hyperrealism, caricature, the superhuman subject, erotic poetry and intrigue.”

Le Devoir

“Part existential thriller, part erotic murder mystery, the book also hints at regret for a generation that formely had a moral and social purpose but had now sickened into self-parody and weary excess.”

Suzi Feay, Gaze, A Modern Review

“A meditation on power, endings, and desire as the driving force of the world, this novel is huge, crepuscular and sumptuous, releasing the sheer power of fiction.”

Mediapart

“A heartrending picture of the difficulty of getting old, the novel also paints an accurate portrait of the millennium… Delightful.”

Le Figaro

“One of the most ambitious and engrossing books of our recent times… What if Mancassola has actually managed to write the great, long-awaited novel of post 9/11 America?”

Livres Hebdo

“You will be stunned by the physicality of these pages.”

Corriere della Sera