Purity

`Superbly readable, it is the work of a novelist at the height of his powers ... The skills that have justly placed Franzen in the top rank of American writers are abundantly evident ... This new work by an American master of realism has novelistic pleasures in abundance: characters one believes in and cares about, situations drenched in atmosphere and detail, and, above all, a propulsive current of storytelling verve' Sunday Times

`Purity is just as good as Freedom, if not better by virtue of its greater ambition' Independent

`This novel contains multitudes: love, murder, marital terrorism, embarrassing sex, nasty sex, solo sex, the Stasi, internet leaks, missing nuclear weapons, missing fathers, overbearing mothers and a variety of interesting bowel disorders. What you won't find much of is purity' Sunday Telegraph

`Franzen in an exceptional writer, more skilled than most at producing brutal insights, perfectly evocative turns of phrase, and genuine hilarity ... rich scenes and crackling dialogue ... delicious observations about contemporary life' Guardian

`Franzen writes conversational, enormously intelligent prose that wears its subtlety and precision lightly ... there's something thrilling about Franzen's frenzied but at the same
time self-mocking and capacious seriousness' Independent

`An ingeniously-plotted, intricately-structured narrative that demands that attention is paid ... gripping, often funny and packed with wonderful characters' Prospect

`Franzen is that rare bird: a literary novelist of the highest distinction who has also become one of the bestsellers of the age ... Purity makes the most compelling reading, and Franzen reveals himself here to be even more a master than ever' David Sexton, Evening Standard

`Wonderful' Daily Mail

`Compelling' The Times

`Very readable' Good Housekeeping