There but for the

A warm, joyful novel that fizzes with humanity and love of language - by the bestselling author of The Accidental'There once was a man who, one night between the main course and the sweet at a dinner party, went upstairs and locked himself in one of the bedrooms of the house of the people who were giving the dinner party . . . 'As the hours turn to days to weeks to months and the consequences of this stranger's actions ripple outwards, touching the owners, the guests, the neighbourhood then the whole country, so Ali Smith draws us into a beautiful, strange place where everyone is so much more than they at first appear.

“A Washington Post Notable Book of 2011 A Publishers Weekly Best Book of 2011 ”

Whimsically devastating. Playful, humorous, serious, profoundly clever and profoundly affecting Guardian
Remarkable. A brilliant novel: funny, serious, always surprising, always true The Times
I take my hat off to Ali Smith. Her writing lifts the soul Evening Standard
A playfully serious or seriously playful novel full of wit and pleasure. Wonderful Observer
Eccentric, adventurous, intoxicating, dazzling. This is a novel with serious ambitions that remains huge fun to read. The writing dances along Literary Review
Poignant, empathetic, funny. A book full of kindness and compassion Time Out
Fizzying, affectionate, sparkling. Smith presents her world view in words as fresh as lemons. A joyful read Herald
A tour de force -- Lionel Shriver Financial Times
A virtuoso piece of writing, both funny and gripping . . . Smith is a writer with a rich array of conventional strengths Times Literary Supplement
A must read Toronto NOW

Ali Smith was born in Inverness in 1962. She is the author of several novels and short story collections including, The Accidental, Hotel World, How to Be Both and the Seasonal Quartet. She has been four times shortlisted for the Booker Prize, has won the Goldsmiths Prize, Orwell Prize, Costa Best Novel Award and the Women's Prize. Ali Smith lives in Cambridge.

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