Salamander

Reminiscent of the work of Umberto Eco, Salamander is 'a gloriously inventive, magical tale of books and riddles, castles and countesses' Elle'A dazzling, bewildering, exhilarating novel, a joy for anyone who loves books' Big Issue'That night, as the striking of the great clock reverberated through the draughty halls of the castle, Flood, in shirt and breeches, leaped barefoot, like a pirate boarding a galley, from his moving bed to Irena's. He found her sitting at the head with her arms around her knees, eyes glittering...''Gloriously inventive. Wharton's gothic adventure is set in a puzzle of a palace with false floors, moving staircases and a printing press - with which Nicholas Flood hopes to print a never-ending story for [his master] Count Ostrov. He's distracted from his task when he falls in love with the Count's beautiful daughter, Irena, and his thoughts turn from infinity to more earthly desires...' Elle'Poetic, inventive... a quest for the Perfect Book that this wonder-tale records, and likewise exemplifies.' Guardian'A beautifully written, old-fashioned read: a cross between Alice in Wonderland and The Lord of the Rings presented in crisp, modern prose which is a pleasure in itself.' Irish Independent'A madly beguiling novel with enough imagination in it for three books.' Sunday Tribune.