'How, given little over half a century of work, did one man become the creative equivalent of a people?' The Guardian 'Demanding to be compared with English mythologies... at times rises to the greatness of true myth' Financial Times 'A creation of singular beauty... magnificent in its best moments' Washington Post 'A grim, tragic, brooding and beautiful book, shot through with heroism and hope... its power is almost that of mysticism' Toronto Globe & Mail
