In the twelve novels he has published since 1966 Barry Unsworth has explored his stated interest in "moral complexities and ambiguities" in a wide variety of genres and settings. Several of his books ...
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In the following review, Broyard compares Unsworth's The Big Day to MacDonald Harris' Yukiko. Though his critical evaluation focuses more on Yukiko, Broyard uses it to illustrate why he ...
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In the following review, Burroway cites minor flaws in Morality Play, but otherwise praises the novel's deft universality of theme.
In a bitter winter in 14th-century England, a young scholar-p...
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In the following review, Nicholl presents an appreciative assessment of Morality Play, maintaining that the novel is a worthy successor to Unsworth's prior works.
It is three years since Barry ...
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In the following review, Begley praises Unsworth's deft handling of the historical novel genre and his thought-provoking themes in Morality Play.
Morality Play, a fine new novel by Barry Unswor...
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In the following review, Bernstein praises Unsworth's "tightly constructed murder mystery" and the evocative details with which he builds his story in Morality Play.
The first few...
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In the following review, Quinn offers praise for the reprint edition of The Hide.
Better known for his potent fictional reconstructions of time past—most memorably the slave trade epic Sacred H...
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In the following review, Eder considers After Hannibal a "dazzling" exploration of history, greed, and betrayal.
"Do you know the land where the lemontrees flower?" Goethe ...
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In the following review, Schwartz finds the characterizations in After Hannibal particularly intriguing and rewarding to the reader.
After Hannibal, the latest novel from Booker Prize-winner Barry Uns...
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In the following review, Lothrop-Green provides a brief overview of the plot of Morality Play and praises the novel's exploration of the role of art in revealing universal truths.
Barry Unswort...
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In the following review, Malone provides an appreciative assessment of Unsworth's main character in The Idol Hunter.
In 1908 on an irrelevant Greek island of the crumbling Ottoman Empire, the L...
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In the following review, Lehmann-Haupt offers praise for Unsworth's evocation of the Middle East in the early twentieth century in The Rage of the Vulture.
In Barry Unsworth's latest nov...
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In the following review, Edwards finds The Rage of the Vulture an admirable attempt to reveal personal conflict amid catastrophic world events.
The recent conquest of America's television scree...
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In the following review, Clute finds the meaning of Stone Virgin somewhat confusing but appreciates Unsworth's depiction of Venice.
Bulging like a teardrop into its poisonous lagoon, Venice boa...
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In the following review, Pollitt considers Unsworth's figure of the Madonna in Stone Virgin more interesting than his depiction of his human characters.
Just when I thought I couldn't st...
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In the following review, Steinberg praises Morality Play as a "gripping" examination of the tension between appearances and reality.
A portentous opening sentence—"It was a...
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Barry (Forster) Unsworth
