Fallen

Reviews / Votes

Maine turns a moralistic lesson into a psychological mystery - again and again throughout this novel, Maine's talent is revealed in the earthy simplicity of such descriptions. -- Elena Seymenliyska * * Guardian * * With a modern novelist's art, acuity and insistence on psychological realism, Maine manages what no religious teacher ever could and had me believing in the truth of these most archetypal of characters and the situation they found themselves in. Having appropriated such an old story it's a marvel that Maine can make it feel so fresh. * * Independent on Sunday * * Although Fallen is a familiar tale, the rewinding structure and the compelling tension and depth of the characters make it gripping; with charm and wry wit, he merely tickles the idea that God is perhaps, well, a bit of a bastard. * * Time Out * * Mostly, the portrayal of Adam, Eve and their children is astonishing . . . [Maine's] crisp, beautiful prose is near flawless. * * Sunday Times * *