Spider - Softcover

McGrath, Patrick

3.78

2,370 ratings by Goodreads

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0140146423 ISBN 13: 9780140146424

Publisher: Penguin, 1992

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Set in 1957, this book tells the story of Spider, a lonely figure who returns to the East End of London after 20 years in an asylum. Spider moves into a boarding house and begins to write an account of his childhood, providing a disturbing vision of psychotic illness from inside.

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Review:

"A small classic of horror." -- Michiko Kakutani, The New York Times

"Brilliant. . . . The sensuous world that McGrath creates is intense in its beauty. . . mesmerizing." --Katherine Dunn, The New York Times Book Review

"Disturbing, wholly absorbing. . . a combination murder mystery/dark-night-of-the-soul. . . touchingly, menacingly brilliant." --Chicago Tribune

"A gorgeous, painful howl of madness, shockingly perfect." --Jonathan Hawkes

"Has the compelling quality of felt reality [that] feels like the inevitable truth. Spider is a thriller of sorts, as well as a psychological case study. . . a gem." --Washington Post Book World
"McGrath especially excels at evoking the latent horro in commonplace sights. . . . [He] has created a manifestly untrustworthy storyteller without sacrificing suspense or sympathy for his characters." --Cleveland Plain Dealer

"[Spider] is as creepy as a fleshy incarnation of an Edward Gorey drawing. . . . McGrath's a shrewd performer. You're fascinated; you're enthralled. . . it's a pleasure to be mesmerized." --Newsday

"Truly outstanding. . . evocative. . . Accomplished in the sinister and macabre, McGrath transcends his already solid reputation with a powerfully realized character who simply won't let you go." --Christian Science Monitor

"The strength of Spider is in the character of the deeply human, if mad, protagonist who emerges as a formidable sufferer among the Gothic trappings. . . . McGrath is a sly literate who. . . has talent--in spades." --Philadelphia Inquirer

About the Author:

Patrick McGrath is the author of two story collections and eight novels, including Asylum, which was an international bestseller. His novels have been widely translated, and he is also the author of Ghost Town: Tales of Manhattan Then and Now, a collection of novellas. Trauma was shortlisted in the UK for the Costa Novel Award. Spider was filmed by David Cronenberg from McGrath's adaptation. Constance, his most recent novel, was published in 2013. He coedited an influential anthology of short fiction, The New Gothic, and recent nonfiction includes introductions to The Monk, Moby Dick and Barnaby Rudge. Patrick McGrath lives in Manhattan and London.

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