Mantissa is a novel by British author John Fowles published in 1982. It consists entirely of a presumably imaginary dialogue in a writer's head, between himself and an embodiment of the Muse Erato, after he wakes amnesiac in a hospital bed.
 First UK edition | |
| Author | John Fowles |
|---|---|
| Cover artist | Pablo Picasso |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | Jonathan Cape (UK) Little, Brown (US) |
Publication date | Aug 1982 |
| Publication place | United Kingdom |
| Media type | |
| Pages | 192 |
| ISBN | 0-224-02938-X |
Critical reception
editMantissa was Fowles' only novel to receive generally negative reviews. The New York Times called it "a surprisingly tedious novel," asserting that it was little more than Fowles' response to critics that he felt misunderstood his work.[1] The Boston Globe named it "an idiotic story."[2] Time magazine, in a more positive review, asserted that the book consists of a sort of intellectual play between Fowles and the reader, or by Fowles at the expense of all reading.[3] The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette likewise identified the book as intellectually playful but found the dialogue tiresome.[4]
Dave Langford reviewed Mantissa for White Dwarf #55, and stated that "Although packed with allegory about what creativity/inspiration actually is, the book is wonderfully, unexpectedly funny. An in-joke or so too many, but great stuff."[5]
Writing
edit- ^ Leonard, John (31 August 1982). "Books of the Times: Mantissa". New York Times. Retrieved 31 May 2011.
- ^ Manning, Margaret (5 September 1982). "Fowles: A Migration And An Entertainment; Mantissa". Boston Globe. Archived from the original on 6 November 2012. Retrieved 31 May 2011.
- ^ Gray, Paul (6 September 1982). "Books: The Prisoners of Gender". Time. Archived from the original on 16 November 2007. Retrieved 31 May 2011.
- ^ Paris, Barry (7 September 1982). "John Fowles muses about fiction". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved 31 May 2011.
- ^ Langford, Dave (July 1984). "Critical Mass". White Dwarf (55). Games Workshop: 20.