Till We Have Faces: A Myth Retold (Paperback)

by C.S. Lewis (Author), Fritz Eichenberg (Illustrator) "I AM old now and have not much to fear from the anger of gods..." (more)
Key Phrases: temple girls, divine blood, Pillar Room, Grey Mountain, Great Offering (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
This tale of two princesses - one beautiful and one unattractive - and of the struggle between sacred and profane love is LewisÂ’s reworking of the myth of Cupid and Psyche and one of his most enduring works.

About the Author

C. S. Lewis (1898-1963) gained international renown for an impressive array of beloved works both popular and scholarly: literary criticism, children's literature, fantasy literature, and numerous books on theology. Among his most celebrated achievements are Out of the Silent Planet, The Chronicles of Narnia, The Screwtape Letters, The Four Loves, and Surprised by Joy.

---

Product Details Paperback: 324 pages Publisher: Harcourt Brace & Company; First Edition. first pb edition (July 9, 1980) Language: English ISBN-10: 0156904365 ISBN-13: 978-0156904360 Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5.3 x 1 inches Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies) Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (191 customer reviews) Amazon.com Sales Rank: #3,935 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books) Popular in these categories: (What's this?) #1 in  Books > Literature & Fiction > Authors, A-Z > ( L ) > Lewis, C.S. #25 in  Books > Literature & Fiction > World Literature > Mythology #50 in  Books > Literature & Fiction > Genre Fiction > Action & Adventure

Front Cover | First Pages | Back Cover | Surprise Me!

Search Inside This Book:

---

Inside This Book (learn more)

First Sentence:
I AM old now and have not much to fear from the anger of gods. Read the first page

Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
temple girls, divine blood

Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Pillar Room, Grey Mountain, Great Offering, Priest of Ungit, King of Glome, Name of Ungit, King of Phars

New!
Concordance | Text Stats

Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | First Pages | Back Cover | Surprise Me!

Search Inside This Book:

---

Citations (learn more)

This book cites 35 books:

• The Dark Tower and Other Stories by C.S. Lewis in Front Matter, and Back Matter
• On Stories: And Other Essays on Literature by C.S. Lewis in Front Matter, and Back Matter
• Letters to Malcolm: Chiefly on Prayer by C.S. Lewis in Front Matter, and Back Matter
• Till We Have Faces: A Myth Retold by C. S. Lewis in Front Matter, and Back Matter
• Spirits In Bondage by C. S. Lewis in Front Matter, and Back Matter

See all 35 books this book cites

 

100 books cite this book:

• Simply C. S. Lewis: A Beginner's Guide to the Life and Works of C. S. Lewis by Thomas C. Peters on 9 pages
• Beyond the Shadowlands: C. S. Lewis on Heaven and Hell by Wayne Martindale on 9 pages
• Jack: A Life of C. S. Lewis by George Sayer on 7 pages
• The Narnian: The Life and Imagination of C. S. Lewis by Alan Jacobs on 7 pages
• A Field Guide to Narnia by Colin Duriez on 5 pages

See all 100 books citing this book

---

What Do Customers Ultimately Buy After Viewing This Item?

	88% buy the item featured on this page: Till We Have Faces: A Myth Retold 4.7 out of 5 stars (191) $10.78
	4% buy The Four Loves 4.7 out of 5 stars (79) $10.01
	3% buy Out of the Silent Planet (Space Trilogy, Book One) 4.4 out of 5 stars (166) $10.19
	3% buy Mere Christianity 4.4 out of 5 stars (552) $10.97

Explore similar items

---

Tags Customers Associate with This Product  (What's this?) Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people. Check the boxes next to the tags you consider relevant or enter your own tags in the field below. christianity(26) mythology(26) cs lewis(21) fantasy(15) fiction(15) allegory(8) christian fantasy(8) psyche(4) retellings(4) book group maybe(3) book(2) See all 47 tags... Your tags: Add your first tag

Search Products Tagged with   See most popular tags

Help others find this product — tag it for Amazon search

No one has tagged this product for Amazon search yet. Why not be the first to suggest a search for which it should appear?

---

Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store

If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store. Learn more

---

 

Customer Reviews

191 Reviews 5 star:  (155) 4 star:  (22) 3 star:  (10) 2 star:  (2) 1 star:  (2)           Average Customer Review 4.7 out of 5 stars (191 customer reviews)		Share your thoughts with other customers:
Most Helpful Customer Reviews 243 of 247 people found the following review helpful: 5.0 out of 5 stars C.S. Lewis' best work of fiction, November 4, 2000 By  Snickerdoodle "teknon" (New Jersey) - See all my reviews C.S. Lewis used fiction to lay bare the soul in ways his more apologetic work could not. The cast of characters in The Great Divorce, for example, or in the "Space Trilogy" invariably remind us of people we know - and give us insights into what makes them tick. Nowhere in Lewis' works is the soul explored better than in Till We Have Faces, Lewis' masterwork of fiction and a stunning psychological and spiritual odyssey. TWHF retells and enriches the myth of Cupid and Psyche, although a lack of familiarity with the myth in no way diminishes from the enjoyment of the book. In Lewis' hands, the story sorts through issues of family, jealousy, gender, faith, and ultimate meaning, culminating with a frightening and yet wonderful 'face to face' scene that gives rise to, and explains, the book's title. Readers who are looking for the kind of in-your-face Christian symbolism that characterized the Chronicles of Narnia will be disappointed with TWHF. Although I appreciate and am nourished by Lewis' Christian parables and apologetics, the theology in TWHF is pagan, at least on its surface. Underneath the surface, however, Lewis does a masterful job of intertwining the traditional beliefs of the main characters - including a stand-in for Greek rationalism - with rumors of a much more intimate and beautiful way of knowing the gods. The climactic scene itself plays off the biblical phrase, "Now we see in a glass dimly, but then face to face" - a phrase that comes, in fact, from I Corinthians 13, the famous chapter on Love in the New Testament. So Lewis does indeed lead the reader toward the One who is love, but he uses the carrot of intrigue and spiritual longing rather than the steamroller (if you will pardon the mixed metaphor) of too-obvious symbolism. This is my favorite of Lewis' works of fiction and was, reportedly, Lewis' favorite as well. Few books can nourish the soul the way Till We Have Faces can. Just one caveat: you really will need to read it twice ... and you will understand why once you have read it through the first time. 155 of 160 people found the following review helpful: 4.0 out of 5 stars a good slap across the face, May 9, 2002 By  NotATameLion (Michigan) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    Besides containing one of the greatest lines about being an author ever written: "I was with book, as a woman is with child", C.S. Lewis's "Till We Have Faces" also did me the service of giving me a good slap across my metaphorical face. How wrapped up we all become in our own little lives. How one-sided and self-favoring is our vision. Though a book about many things--holiness, love, and philosophy to name a few--"Till We Have Faces" is mainly about how our perceptions can fail us. How in the name of doing what we think is right, we can do horrible things. Orual, the protagonist of the story, spends an entire life learning what the apostle Paul meant when he said "Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known." The real twist in "Till We Have Faces" is that the reader, more likely than not, learns the same lesson (I know I did). C.S. Lewis is one of my favorite authors for many reasons. This book is definitely one of them. Lewis considered "Till We Have Faces" to be his best book. I do not know if I agree, but it is certainly a great story. I give "Till We Have Faces" a very high recommendation. 78 of 82 people found the following review helpful: 5.0 out of 5 stars Till We Have Faces is a psychological masterpiece, November 2, 1999 By A Customer C.S. Lewis's novel Till We Have Faces is based on the classical myth of Cupid and Psyche, however Lewis chooses to tel the story through Orual, Psyche's older sister. While Lewis does retell the well-known story of Psyche and Cupid, that is only a tiny piece of the story he creates. Till We Have Faces is actually the story of Orual's struggle to find love, and to discover her own identity. The actual setting of the story is unclear-it takes place in a country north of Greece, in a time long past, but Lewis does not choose to elaborate on that. In fact throughout the entire book, he focuses very little on sensory details; it is a story of emotion and psychology rather than action and physical description. Orual writes her own story, beginning at her childhood in her father's castle. There she leads an isolated life, surrounded only by her fathers servants, advisors, and her sisters, Redival and Psyche. Redival, with her golden curls and curvy figure, is superficially pretty, but Psyche is the embodiment of perfect and natural beauty. She is not only outwardly beautiful, she is also pure, unselfish, and loving. Orual, though, is neither pretty nor beautiful. She is, as she is constantly reminded by her father (the king), indescribably ugly. Orual never feels that she is loved by anyone, that is, until Psyche enters her life. Psyche's mother dies giving birth to her, and Orual takes it upon herself to become Psyche's guardian and to raise her. Orual loves Psyche more than anything else, but her love is selfishly and fiercely possessive. Orual is tormented by the thought of having to release Psyche from her suffocating grasp, and she does everything in her power to prevent it. After being separated from Psyche, Orual gradually comes to the realization that she (Psyche) is like the goddess Ungit-greedy, jealous, blood-gorged, and ugly of soul as well as body. She also compares herself to her father, the violent, selfish, cowardly, and dishonest king. Orual recoils from this realization, and as queen, she tries to be everything that her father, and Ungit, are not. While she is described by her subjects as "the most wise, just, valiant, fortunate and merciful" of all rulers, Orual feels that her actions are only a mask of her inner ugliness. She despairs of ever overcoming her hideousness inside. She says, "I would set out boldly each morning to be just and calm and wise in all my thoughts and acts, but before they had finished dressing me I would find that I was back in some old rage, resentment, gnawing fantasy, or sullen bitterness. I could not hold out half an hour . . . I could mend my soul no more than my face." Like the veil she wears to hide her ugly face, she feels that her good actions only conceal the hideousness of her true self. C.S. Lewis felt that we, as humans, are like rough blocks of marble. He said that suffering is the tool God uses to carve away our rough edges and to refine our souls. As Orual experiences suffering, she doesn't realize it, but she is actually coming closer and closer to becoming the perfected statue. Each trial chips away another piece of the marble that conceals the perfect form within. The title, Till We Have Faces, may refer to the process of refinement and self-realization. Till We Have Faces is a captivating book from beginning to end. As the reader, I could not only identify with Orual's struggles, I felt as though I was Orual, going through the same turmoil and inner-conflict. It is a book that I can read over and over again, each time experiencing new epiphanies and gaining deeper insight. It is impossible to adequately describe, even to a small degree, this fascinating and complex novel; it must be read and read again.		Most Recent Customer Reviews 5.0 out of 5 stars The audiobook version is excellent This review is for the audiobook version narrated by Nadia May. I will start out with the audiobook. I was very impressed with the narrator. Read more Published 3 days ago by Jeffrey Van Wagoner 5.0 out of 5 stars Better than the original myth C.S. Lewis knows how to tell an excellent story and make a few important points at the same time. He brought the story to life; Lewis's version is much more believable and... Read more Published 2 months ago by Sarah Langer 2.0 out of 5 stars not my cup of tea The homely Queen is writing this message to explain (and excuse) her actions in the past concerning her step sister, Psyche, and to state her case so to speak. Read more Published 2 months ago by fiesta 5.0 out of 5 stars Till We Have Faces This book is incredible! The writing is wonderful, and the way it is put together is very well done: the pages are the right size and material, and the font easy to read. Read more Published 5 months ago by Hannah R. Lewis 5.0 out of 5 stars I love this book Lewis triumphs again with a stunning retelling of the myth of Cupid and Psyche. It is so beautifully written and as always in his writing, challenges your mind and touches your... Read more Published 9 months ago by Caroline Clunk 5.0 out of 5 stars Beyond Excellent I went into this book not knowing what to expect; I'd never even heard of it before. The first time I read it, it blew my mind. Read more Published 12 months ago by R. A. Kaelin 5.0 out of 5 stars I've Lived In It Considering that at the time I'm writing this review, it's had over 150 five-star reviews, I hesitate to add another little voice to the huge chorus, but here it is. Read more Published 13 months ago by Marshall Vandruff 5.0 out of 5 stars The Best of Paganism C.S. Lewis writes very well, and so almost anything written by him would be a pleasant read. What is more, he knows and understands ancient mythology very well. Read more Published 14 months ago by Shawn T. Miller 5.0 out of 5 stars C.S. Lewis's Masterpiece The first time I read Till We Have Faces, upon finishing the last page I immediately returned to the first page and began reading it again, something I have felt compelled to do... Read more Published 17 months ago by Sal Bott 5.0 out of 5 stars Great read, in Lewis' fluid style I bought this book for a literature class, only knowing that I liked the Narnia books by C.S. Lewis, and hoping I'd like this one as well. I was very pleased. Read more Published 19 months ago by Heather Search Customer Reviews Only search this product's reviews

---

Customer Discussions

 Beta (What's this?)

New! See all customer communities, and bookmark your communities to keep track of them.

This product's forum (0 discussions)   Discussion Replies Latest Post   No discussions yet Ask questions, Share opinions, Gain insight Start a new discussion Topic: First post: Receive e-mail when new posts are made Prompts for sign-in   [Cancel] Guidelines Active discussions in related forums   Discussion Replies Latest Post christianity Put Genesis 3:22 and Genesis 11:6-7 together and what do you get? 50 36 seconds ago christianity When Is The Rapture Suppose to Start? 197 51 seconds ago christianity Sin of Sins 6039 1 minute ago christianity Does secularism undermine human rights? 294 3 minutes ago action Have You Written an Action/Adventure Themed Book - Come Tell Us About It. 347 15 hours ago mythology Greetings! 2 1 day ago action July book giveaway 0 2 days ago

The Christianity community Latest activity 1 hour ago 21,071 customers have contributed 23,998 products, 1,023 discussions and more... › Explore the community The Mythology community Latest activity 3 hours ago 3,336 customers have contributed 3,053 products, 281 lists & guides and more... › Explore the community The C.S. Lewis community Latest activity 1 hour ago 1,131 customers have contributed 505 products, 134 lists & guides and more... › Explore the community Related forums action (92 discussions) c s lewis christianity (1023 discussions) cs lewis (1 discussion) mythology (4 discussions) Explore more › See all Customer Communities › Your communities

---

Product Information from the Amapedia Community

Beta (What's this?)

Be the first person to add an article about this item at Amapedia.com.

› See featured Amapedia.com articles

---

Listmania!

Read lesser-known books by C.S.Lewis: A list by Gord Wilson "alivingdog.com"   novels I actually like: A list by anglitorra   Books for spiritual Flying Dutchmen: A list by Casey R. Law Create a Listmania! list

Search Listmania!

---

So You'd Like to...

Understand the Female Perspective through Literature: A guide by Melissa Halvorsen "Reading Addict"   Go beyond Tolkien: Exploring lesser known fantasy: A guide by Victoria "starbrow"   take an incredible journey...: A guide by galaxygal Create a guide

Search Guides

---

Look for Similar Items by Category

• Books > Literature & Fiction > Authors, A-Z > ( L ) > Lewis, C.S.
• Books > Literature & Fiction > Classics
• Books > Literature & Fiction > Genre Fiction > Action & Adventure
• Books > Literature & Fiction > World Literature > Mythology

---

Cook with the Best Ingredients Fall into cooking or give the gift of great cooking with fresh and innovative ingredients and spices from Amazon Gourmet. ›Shop more now

Best Books of 2008 Find our top 100 editors' picks as well as customers' favorites in dozens of categories in our Best Books of 2008 Store.

Measure Twice, Cut Once A tape measure offers the greatest flexibility for all types of measuring. ›Shop all tape measures

The Clean Machine Blowers and vacuums are must-have items for quickly and effectively cleaning up debris in any yard. ›Shop all blowers

Ad feedback

 

Feedback If you need help or have a question for Customer Service, contact us.  Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images? Is there any other feedback you would like to provide? Your comments can help make our site better for everyone. Please note that we are unable to respond directly to all feedback submitted via this form, but we'll ask you to sign in so we can contact you if needed.

Where's My Stuff? Track your recent orders. View or change your orders in Your Account. Shipping & Returns See our shipping rates & policies. See FREE shipping information. Return an item (here's our Returns Policy). Need Help? Forgot your password? Buy gift cards. Visit our Help department.

Your Recent History

  (What's this?)

You have no recently viewed items or searches. After viewing product detail pages or search results, look here to find an easy way to navigate back to pages you are interested in. Look to the right column to find helpful suggestions for your shopping session.	Continue shopping: Top Sellers Glenn Beck's Common Sense by Glenn Beck 3.7 out of 5 stars (222)$6.59 Glenn Beck's Common Sense by Glenn Beck 3.7 out of 5 stars (222)$6.59 Darkfever by Karen Marie Moning 3.7 out of 5 stars (216)$0.00 The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan, Sir, 1859-1930 Doyle 5.0 out of 5 stars (5)$0.00

Amazon.com Home  |   Directory of All Stores

International Sites:  Canada  |  United Kingdom  |  Germany  |  Japan  |  France  |  China

Business Programs: Sell on Amazon  |  Build an eCommerce Site  |  Advertise With Us  |  Developer Services  |  Self-Publish with Us

Help  |  View Cart  |  Your Account  |  1-Click Settings

Investor Relations  |  Press Releases  |  Careers at Amazon  |  Join Associates  |  Join Advantage

Conditions of Use | Privacy Notice © 1996-2009, Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates

Product Details

• Paperback: 324 pages
• Publisher: Harcourt Brace & Company; First Edition. first pb edition (July 9, 1980)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0156904365
• ISBN-13: 978-0156904360
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5.3 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (191 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #3,935 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #1 in	Books > Literature & Fiction > Authors, A-Z > ( L ) > Lewis, C.S.
  #25 in	Books > Literature & Fiction > World Literature > Mythology
  #50 in	Books > Literature & Fiction > Genre Fiction > Action & Adventure

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

243 of 247 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars C.S. Lewis' best work of fiction, November 4, 2000

By	Snickerdoodle "teknon" (New Jersey) - See all my reviews

C.S. Lewis used fiction to lay bare the soul in ways his more apologetic work could not. The cast of characters in The Great Divorce, for example, or in the "Space Trilogy" invariably remind us of people we know - and give us insights into what makes them tick. Nowhere in Lewis' works is the soul explored better than in Till We Have Faces, Lewis' masterwork of fiction and a stunning psychological and spiritual odyssey.

TWHF retells and enriches the myth of Cupid and Psyche, although a lack of familiarity with the myth in no way diminishes from the enjoyment of the book. In Lewis' hands, the story sorts through issues of family, jealousy, gender, faith, and ultimate meaning, culminating with a frightening and yet wonderful 'face to face' scene that gives rise to, and explains, the book's title.

Readers who are looking for the kind of in-your-face Christian symbolism that characterized the Chronicles of Narnia will be disappointed with TWHF. Although I appreciate and am nourished by Lewis' Christian parables and apologetics, the theology in TWHF is pagan, at least on its surface. Underneath the surface, however, Lewis does a masterful job of intertwining the traditional beliefs of the main characters - including a stand-in for Greek rationalism - with rumors of a much more intimate and beautiful way of knowing the gods. The climactic scene itself plays off the biblical phrase, "Now we see in a glass dimly, but then face to face" - a phrase that comes, in fact, from I Corinthians 13, the famous chapter on Love in the New Testament. So Lewis does indeed lead the reader toward the One who is love, but he uses the carrot of intrigue and spiritual longing rather than the steamroller (if you will pardon the mixed metaphor) of too-obvious symbolism.

This is my favorite of Lewis' works of fiction and was, reportedly, Lewis' favorite as well. Few books can nourish the soul the way Till We Have Faces can. Just one caveat: you really will need to read it twice ... and you will understand why once you have read it through the first time.

155 of 160 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars a good slap across the face, May 9, 2002

By	NotATameLion (Michigan) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

Besides containing one of the greatest lines about being an author ever written: "I was with book, as a woman is with child", C.S. Lewis's "Till We Have Faces" also did me the service of giving me a good slap across my metaphorical face. How wrapped up we all become in our own little lives. How one-sided and self-favoring is our vision.

Though a book about many things--holiness, love, and philosophy to name a few--"Till We Have Faces" is mainly about how our perceptions can fail us. How in the name of doing what we think is right, we can do horrible things.

Orual, the protagonist of the story, spends an entire life learning what the apostle Paul meant when he said "Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known." The real twist in "Till We Have Faces" is that the reader, more likely than not, learns the same lesson (I know I did).

C.S. Lewis is one of my favorite authors for many reasons. This book is definitely one of them. Lewis considered "Till We Have Faces" to be his best book. I do not know if I agree, but it is certainly a great story.

I give "Till We Have Faces" a very high recommendation.

78 of 82 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Till We Have Faces is a psychological masterpiece, November 2, 1999

By A Customer

C.S. Lewis's novel Till We Have Faces is based on the classical myth of Cupid and Psyche, however Lewis chooses to tel the story through Orual, Psyche's older sister. While Lewis does retell the well-known story of Psyche and Cupid, that is only a tiny piece of the story he creates. Till We Have Faces is actually the story of Orual's struggle to find love, and to discover her own identity. The actual setting of the story is unclear-it takes place in a country north of Greece, in a time long past, but Lewis does not choose to elaborate on that. In fact throughout the entire book, he focuses very little on sensory details; it is a story of emotion and psychology rather than action and physical description. Orual writes her own story, beginning at her childhood in her father's castle. There she leads an isolated life, surrounded only by her fathers servants, advisors, and her sisters, Redival and Psyche. Redival, with her golden curls and curvy figure, is superficially pretty, but Psyche is the embodiment of perfect and natural beauty. She is not only outwardly beautiful, she is also pure, unselfish, and loving. Orual, though, is neither pretty nor beautiful. She is, as she is constantly reminded by her father (the king), indescribably ugly. Orual never feels that she is loved by anyone, that is, until Psyche enters her life. Psyche's mother dies giving birth to her, and Orual takes it upon herself to become Psyche's guardian and to raise her. Orual loves Psyche more than anything else, but her love is selfishly and fiercely possessive. Orual is tormented by the thought of having to release Psyche from her suffocating grasp, and she does everything in her power to prevent it. After being separated from Psyche, Orual gradually comes to the realization that she (Psyche) is like the goddess Ungit-greedy, jealous, blood-gorged, and ugly of soul as well as body. She also compares herself to her father, the violent, selfish, cowardly, and dishonest king. Orual recoils from this realization, and as queen, she tries to be everything that her father, and Ungit, are not. While she is described by her subjects as "the most wise, just, valiant, fortunate and merciful" of all rulers, Orual feels that her actions are only a mask of her inner ugliness. She despairs of ever overcoming her hideousness inside. She says, "I would set out boldly each morning to be just and calm and wise in all my thoughts and acts, but before they had finished dressing me I would find that I was back in some old rage, resentment, gnawing fantasy, or sullen bitterness. I could not hold out half an hour . . . I could mend my soul no more than my face." Like the veil she wears to hide her ugly face, she feels that her good actions only conceal the hideousness of her true self. C.S. Lewis felt that we, as humans, are like rough blocks of marble. He said that suffering is the tool God uses to carve away our rough edges and to refine our souls. As Orual experiences suffering, she doesn't realize it, but she is actually coming closer and closer to becoming the perfected statue. Each trial chips away another piece of the marble that conceals the perfect form within. The title, Till We Have Faces, may refer to the process of refinement and self-realization. Till We Have Faces is a captivating book from beginning to end. As the reader, I could not only identify with Orual's struggles, I felt as though I was Orual, going through the same turmoil and inner-conflict. It is a book that I can read over and over again, each time experiencing new epiphanies and gaining deeper insight. It is impossible to adequately describe, even to a small degree, this fascinating and complex novel; it must be read and read again.