A reader's guide to one of the most popular novels of the past ten years. Includes a biography of the novelist, analysis of the novel, reviews of the novel, the novel's standing today vis-a-vis TV, film, prizes, etc, and further reading, discussion questions, websites.



This is part of a new series of guides to contemporary novels. The aim of the series is to give readers accessible and informative introductions to some of the most popular, most acclaimed and most influential novels of recent years from The Remains of the Day to White Teeth. A team of contemporary fiction scholars from both sides of the Atlantic has been assembled to provide a thorough and readable analysis of each of the novels in question.