Piranesi

Winner of the 2021 Women's Prize for Fiction
A SUNDAY TIMES & NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

The spectacular new novel from the bestselling author of Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell, ‘one of our greatest living authors’ NEW YORK MAGAZINE
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Piranesi by Susanna Clarke is a captivating exploration of the power of memory, perception, and the nature of reality. Piranesi lives in the House, a labyrinthine place filled with endless halls, stately marble statues, and an ocean that flows through its corridors. His only companion is a man he calls the Other, who visits him twice a week and for whom he meticulously documents the wonders of the House in his notebooks. Piranesi's life is tranquil and systematically ordered, dedicated to unravelling the mysteries of his sprawling, watery world.

However, Piranesi's peaceful existence is interrupted when cryptic messages begin appearing, warning of another presence in the House. Mystified by these inscriptions, Piranesi embarks on a journey to uncover the truth. Are these newcomers friends, or do they bring chaos and madness as the Other warns? As he delves deeper, Piranesi discovers lost texts and hidden secrets that challenge everything he believed about his world. The reality of the House becomes increasingly disorienting and dangerous.

The Beauty of the House is immeasurable; its Kindness infinite.
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‘What a world Susanna Clarke conjures into being … Piranesi is an exquisite puzzle-box’ David Mitchell

‘It subverts expectations throughout … Utterly otherworldly’ Guardian

‘Piranesi astonished me. It is a miraculous and luminous feat of storytelling’ Madeline Miller

‘Brilliantly singular’ Sunday Times

‘A gorgeous, spellbinding mystery … This book is a treasure, washed up upon a forgotten shore, waiting to be discovered’ Erin Morgenstern

‘Head-spinning … Fully imagined and richly evoked’ Telegraph

Piranesi weaves a spellbinding narrative that captivates with its elegance and allure, masterfully pieced together by Susanna Clarke. This novel is a profound reflection on solitude, curiosity, and the search for meaning in a world bound by its own enigmatic rules. Ideal for fans of literary fiction and fantasy alike, this book will stay with readers long after they turn the last page.

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