So fresh is Maxwell's wisdom on adolescent insecurities, hesitancies and blind worship that it is hard to imagine that his words are more than half a century old

A true, beautiful and profoundly poignant novel. It is so good it almost seems miraculous

A novel of major quality, the fruit of real engagement with other people and the course of their lives

Few novels have charted the end of boyhood and the coming of adult wisdom as subtly and humanely as Maxwell in this profound, atmospheric work which is as moving as it is shrewd and often funny

A narrative of sheer emotion... Olivia achieves the purity of classic tragedy

Extraordinary...as accomplished and perfect as possible in its feeling, its decorum and tact, its secret lyricism...in its quality at the same time of modesty and candour

A wonderful dark comic first novel