In 'Piranesi', the protagonist finds himself trapped in a mysterious, labyrinthine home filled with statues and vast oceans. His only companion is the enigmatic figure he calls the Other, who reveals snippets of a world outside the sprawling Hall. As Piranesi's understanding of his reality deepens, he begins to uncover dark secrets that challenge his perception of freedom and confinement. With beautiful prose and rich imagery, Clarke crafts a haunting tale of memory, isolation, and the search for truth. Will Piranesi embrace the revelations that could shatter his world or cling to the only life he has ever known?
By Susanna Clarke
Published: 2021
"The world is made of stories, not atoms."
New York Times Bestseller Winner of the Women's Prize for Fiction World Fantasy Awards Finalist The instant New York Times bestselling novel from the author of Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell, an intoxicating, hypnotic book set in a dreamlike alternative reality. Piranesi's house is no ordinary building: its rooms are infinite, its corridors endless, its walls are lined with thousands upon thousands of statues, each one different from all the others. Within the labyrinth of halls an ocean is imprisoned; waves thunder up staircases, rooms are flooded in an instant. But Piranesi is not afraid; he understands the tides as he understands the pattern of the labyrinth itself. He lives to explore the house. There is one other person in the house-a man called The Other, who visits Piranesi twice a week and asks for help with research into A Great and Secret Knowledge. But as Piranesi explores, evidence emerges of another person, and a terrible truth begins to unravel, revealing a world beyond the one Piranesi has always known. For readers of Neil Gaiman's The Ocean at the End of the Lane and fans of Madeline Miller's Circe, Piranesi introduces an astonishing new world, an infinite labyrinth, full of startling images and surreal beauty, haunted by the tides and the clouds.
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“The world is made of stories, not atoms.”
Piranesi
By Susanna Clarke
Discover a world of knowledge through our extensive collection of book summaries.
Susanna Clarke is a celebrated British author known for her richly imaginative storytelling and intricate world-building. She gained widespread acclaim with her groundbreaking 2004 novel, "Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell," which blends historical fiction with fantasy and explores the revival of English magic in the 19th century. Clarke's writing is characterized by its lyrical prose, complex characters, and deep exploration of themes such as power and memory. In 2021, she released "Piranesi," a critically acclaimed novel that delves into a mysterious and haunting labyrinthine world. Clarke's unique voice and innovative approach have firmly established her as a prominent figure in contemporary fantasy literature.
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