A History of the World in 10 1/2 Chapters (Vintage International)

The best parts of this book are 'The Stow-away' and 'The Shipwreck'. 'The Stowaway' kicks off Barnes's whimsical, ascerbic, poignant yet uproariously funny novel. Set in the First Testament , the first chapter specifically spoofs the story of Noah and the Great Flood, as seen through the eyes of a rather unexpected 'Stowaway'. 'The Shipwreck' is a whole different kettle of fish - tragic yet...more

The best parts of this book are 'The Stow-away' and 'The Shipwreck'. 'The Stowaway' kicks off Barnes's whimsical, ascerbic, poignant yet uproariously funny novel. Set in the First Testament , the first chapter specifically spoofs the story of Noah and the Great Flood, as seen through the eyes of a rather unexpected 'Stowaway'. 'The Shipwreck' is a whole different kettle of fish - tragic yet intelligent in the extreme, involving inference and a very close look at Gericault's painting of the survivors and victims of the wrecked 'Medusa', at sea.   hide

this would have to be one of my all time favourite books ever.

Of course the woodworm wouldn't be allowed on Noah's Ark - human history is ridiculous.

Barnes' best, fucking beautiful!

A big, sprawling, crazy-creative work. Barnes examines the problem of history and the impossibility of an objective truth, while using religion and the Bible as a backdrop to his argument. A truly postmodern work, and a drastically underrated one at that.

Interesting concept but it sort of gets away from him in parts. Ranges from entertaining to incredibly dry in places, but worth the read.

Loved it. Made my brain laughed...

A wonderful, inspired interweaving of ten loosely connected tales and a heartbreakingly beautiful "parentheses" (the 1/2 chapter mentioned in the title). I'd begun and forgotten two of Barnes' other books before my girlfriend turned me onto this one; on the strength of this one, I'm going to return to both. Truly excellent.

my first encounter with Julian Barnes, causing a life long addiction...