«There is a Waugh-like brilliance to this novel, in the easy economical narrative, the continuous invention producing a series of surprises, the well-cut dialogue, the controlled tone . . . the most remarkable of Miss Spark's achievements. Nothing is forced, least of all the humour»

V. S. Naipaul

«I am reading a trio of novels by Muriel Spark, a marvellously witty English writer . . . Her best, I think, is Memento Mori, which is chillingly brilliant»

Tennessee Williams

«The greatest Scottish novelist of modern times . . . My admiration for Spark's contribution to world literature knows no bounds. She was peerless, sparkling, inventive and intelligent - the creme de la creme»

Ian Rankin

«Spark is a writer who can take the meditative and make it mercurially funny, playful and mischievious»

Ali Smith

«There is a Waugh-like brilliance to this novel, in the easy economical narrative, the continuous invention producing a series of surprises, the well-cut dialogue, the controlled tone. This last is the most remarkable of Miss Spark's achievements. Nothing is forced, least of all the humour»

V. S. Naipaul, NEW STATESMAN

«I am reading a trio of novels by Muriel Spark, a marvelously witty English writer, one of the few lady writers I like to read. Her best, I think, is Memento Mori, which is chillingly brilliant»

Tennessee Williams

«This funny and macabre book has delighted me as much as any novel that I have read since the war»

Graham Greene

«A brilliant and singularly gruesome achchievement»

Evelyn Waugh