Contained in these few pages is a complete portrait of what it means to be human, at our most elemental, and the effect is awesome * * Observer * * Baricco's writing shows an author in unquestioned control of his vocabulary, his phrases brief but beautifully cadenced. * * Independent * * With its tenderness, eroticism and simplicity, it is one of the most astonishing and moving novels I have ever read. * * Daily Telegraph * * Baricco's delicate, minimalist prose style, full of wistful refrains and subtle rondos, is closer to a haiku than anything in the European literary tradition. * * Independent on Sunday * * Short and sharp, the novel's conclusion is as moving a piece of writing as one might hope to read. -- Chris Power
Alessandro Baricco was born in Turin in 1958. He is the author of six novels, including Silk and Without Blood, all of which have been translated into English. His latest novel, Questa Storia, was recently published to great acclaim in Italy, and he has also produced five collections of essays and a theatrical monologue.