Penelope Fitzgerald's novels are described by Frank Kermode in the London Review of Books as "the kind of fiction in which perfection is almost to be hoped for." Louis B. Jones, in The New York Times Book Review (1 March 1992), places Fitzgerald firmly...

From virtually the outset of her career as a novelist, Penelope Fitzgerald's work has attracted serious critical attention. Her second novel, The Bookshop (1978), was shortlisted for the Booker Prize, which is Britain's most valuable literary award,...

In the following essay, Bawer traces the distinctive characteristics of Fitzgerald’s fiction and asserts that these features are most prominent in The Gate of Angels.

In the following essay, Gitzen studies Fitzgerald’s use of compression in her novels, tracing common features including a short time span, a restriction of plot, and a minimum number of prominent characters.

In the following review, Raban lauds Fitzgerald’s ability to write as if from first-hand memory instead of historical research, especially in her Human Voices.