Patricia Huntzinger

A compelling, though demanding, read which begs comparison with Dickens in its range of characters and breadth of landscapes, 'A New York Winter's Tale' is not for the faint-hearted nor for the reader who becomes impatient with detail. Rather for those who relish linguistic riches and are unafraid of the epic simile and the fascination of unfamiliar vocabulary, it is a novel which rewards close attention. Helprin has created worlds within worlds and the allure of the beauties and beastliness of the city which calls itself New York is difficult, if not impossible to resist. His prose is delicious, his imagination boundless and his characters are as varied and brilliant as the colours of the frozen wastes which surround his tale. A bravura performance!!