[A] heartbreakingly beautiful novel… George Szirtes conveys both the sophistication and simplicity of Szabó’s narrative in a superb translation… Humble, wistful Ettie is a wonderful creation… Just as The Door won an immediate English-language following, Iza’s Ballad is bound to become one of the most loved books of the year… This publication of Iza’s Ballad, subtle and profound, is a cause for celebration

The writing has a lovely clarity and a relevance that is timeless

Szabo nails with incisive clarity the painful dynamics between the two [central] characters… A perceptive study of family relationships, bereavement and old age, it is harrowingly beautiful

A ruthless exploration of the damage we inflict on one another in the name of love

Szabo…is a rare voice, and this novel about the death of tradition and hope is a marvel of empathy

Lively . . . Michael paints the Middle Ages in spare and elegant prose

Portrayed beautifully, honestly

it’s beautiful fragments coalesce to form an elaborate, haunting portrait of urban Pakistan, rich with acute sociological detail and subtle existential contemplation

A Concise Chinese-English Dictionary for Lovers is an intriguing, funny and unusual novel about what gets lost in translation

An uplifting novel with moments of great poignancy and pathos

Written with compelling simplicity.

Cleverly constructed, carefully written and deservedly longlisted for this year’s Booker Prize.

Clegg's story is frequently affecting.

At times a harrowing read, the slow and deliberate manner with which connections are revealed and questions answered is genuinely satisfying. By the time Clegg’s narrative strands converge, the glimpse that he grants of a brighter future feels earned.

An emotionally resonant debut.

A moving lament on guilt and grief, not to mention a gripping thriller.

A sad yet hopeful novel built from both suffering and kindness.

Poignant and haunting debut.

Clegg shows an impressive depth and range of voice as he tells a story of friendships, broken families, burgeoning love, and the aftermath of grief.

Deeply moving.

Clegg is committed to unravelling the complexities of human nature.

Through distinctive and instantly recognisable characters, this novel finds beauty in pain, grief and regret.

A true beauty of a novel.

Clegg writes with warmth and a deep understanding of grief.

Wonderful narrative of chance, grief, and the ways we feed on and nourish each other.

Fabulous.

Told its heart-breaking tale with tenderness and verve.

A work full of secrets, shame and scandal.

A story of what can be found when so much has been snatched away.

A meditation on enduring the unendurable… This is a wonderful and deeply moving novel.

A beautiful, heart-rending novel of quiet, understated tragedy… Sensitive and insightful, heart-breaking and hopeful… [A] tender, wise and hopeful novel.