'Belly-achingly hilarious' Sunday Times 'Written with restless wit . . . a pleasure.' Observer 'What makes you smile, and smile, and smile is the elegance of the writing. Seldom was so much pretentiousness skewered so stylishly.' Novel of the Week, Mail on Sunday 'Everything St. Aubyn writes is worth reading for the cleansing rancor of his intelligence and the fierce elegance of his prose.' Anne Enright, New York Times Book Review 'Black and brilliant stuff . . . Very clever and extremely funny.' The Times