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
Sunday Times
A true, beautiful and profoundly poignant novel. It is so good it almost seems miraculous
New York Times
A novel of major quality, the fruit of real engagement with other people and the course of their lives
Independent on Sunday
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
Irish Times