Piranesi

by Susanna Clarke, Susana Clark
Piranesi cover
Good Books rating 4.67
Fantasy
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Paperback • £9.99–£11.99 Hardback • £18.99–£20.00
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Format • £9.49
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Technical
  • ID: 1075
  • Added: 2025-09-25
  • Updated: 2025-11-29
  • ISBN: 9781526622433
  • Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
  • Published: 2021-09-01
  • Formats: 51
  • Reviews: 4

Piranesi is a man who inhabits a vast, enigmatic House filled with countless statues and ever-changing tides. He meticulously records the House's wonders in his notebooks, living a solitary life punctuated only by visits from the Other and offerings to the Dead. However, his world is disrupted when mysterious messages appear, hinting at the presence of someone new. As Piranesi uncovers lost texts and secrets, he begins to question the nature of his reality and the true purpose of the House. The novel is a mesmerizing blend of mystery and fantasy, exploring themes of identity, perception, and the beauty of the unknown. Winner of the 2021 Women's Prize for Fiction, Piranesi is a captivating and atmospheric tale that has been praised for its exquisite world-building and intricate storytelling. Susanna Clarke, the author of the acclaimed Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell, delivers a haunting and luminous feat of imagination that challenges readers to question what they know and embrace the mysteries of the House.

Reviews
Women's Prize · 2025-10-17
beautiful 4.75

The book is praised for its haunting beauty and fascinating protagonist, exploring themes of memory and self-reliance in a charming and beautifully told narrative.

The reviewer is enchanted by Piranesi's haunting beauty and the intriguing character at its center. They appreciate the novel's exploration of memory loss and regain, as well as its themes of wonder and self-reliance. The narrative is described as charming and beautifully told, creating a compelling portrait of a parallel world. The reviewer finds the protagonist's journey to be both fascinating and thought-provoking, making the book a standout read.

Quick quotes

    Piranesi is a hauntingly beautiful novel with a fascinating protagonist.

    Charming and beautifully told, a portrait of a parallel world where the key themes are memory lost and regained, wide-eyed wonder, and radical self-reliance.

    A novel that lingers in the mind long after the last page is turned.

La Smith Writer · 2025-09-25
lovely 4.75

Piranesi is praised as a lovely and meditative journey that explores both the good and bad aspects of human nature. It is also described as a compelling page-turner.

The reviewer finds Piranesi to be a beautiful and contemplative novel that skillfully examines the complexities of human nature. They appreciate the book's ability to balance deep philosophical questions with an engaging narrative. The reviewer also highlights the book's unique setting and the way it blends mystery and introspection. They suggest that Piranesi is a book that will stay with the reader long after the final page.

Quick quotes

    Piranesi is a lovely book; a meditative journey into both the good and bad aspects of human nature.

    It is a compelling page-turner to boot.

    Piranesi is a book that will stay with you long after the final page.

Elitist Book Reviews · Vanessa · 2023-01-18
worthy 4.20

An otherworldly house, the search for magic in the modern world, and a man's discovery of himself makes Piranesi an strangely worthy story.

The reviewer, Vanessa, finds Piranesi to be a strangely worthy story that explores themes of self-discovery and the search for magic in the modern world. They are captivated by the otherworldly setting of the book, which adds a layer of intrigue and wonder. Vanessa appreciates the book's unique narrative structure and its ability to blend fantasy with deeper philosophical questions. They conclude that Piranesi is a memorable and thought-provoking read.

Quick quotes

    An otherworldly house, the search for magic in the modern world, and a man's discovery of himself makes Piranesi an strangely worthy story.

    The book's unique narrative structure is both engaging and thought-provoking.

    Piranesi is a memorable and thought-provoking read that blends fantasy with deeper philosophical questions.

Reddit - r/Fantasy · 2022-01-01
joyful 5.00

The book is praised as a joyfully-written puzzle box of a novel, stronger than Clarke's earlier work, featuring a memorable world and fascinating characters.

This Reddit reviewer highly recommends Piranesi, describing it as a joyfully-written puzzle box of a novel. They find it to be stronger than Clarke's earlier work, with a memorable world and fascinating characters. The reviewer appreciates the novel's ability to engage and intrigue readers, making it a standout in Clarke's body of work. The unique and compelling narrative, along with the well-developed characters, contributes to a highly enjoyable reading experience.

Quick quotes

    Piranesi is a joyfully-written puzzle box of a novel.

    Stronger than Clarke's earlier work and featuring a memorable world and fascinating characters.

    A standout in Clarke's body of work, with a unique and compelling narrative.

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