In 1938, two rival expeditions set off for a lost Mayan temple in the jungles of Honduras, one intending to shoot a screwball comedy on location there, the other intending to disassemble it and ship it back to New York. A seemingly endless stalemate ensues, and twenty years later, when a rogue CIA agent learns that both expeditions are still out in the wilderness, he embarks on a mission to exploit the temple as a geopolitical pawn. But the mission hurtles towards disaster when he discovers that the temple is the locus of grander conspiracies than anyone could have guessed.
Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton
ISBN: 9781473613614
Number of pages: 416
Weight: 292 g
Dimensions: 198 x 154 x 29 mm
Dazzling . . . his best to date . . . If there is one adjective that describes Beauman's prose it is 'buoyant' - a quality which allows the reader to get through a long book with little effort, and the author to carry the considerable heft of his intelligence lightly. And it is a roaming intelligence. - David Patrikarakos, Spectator
Madness is Better than Defeat is a Swiss watch: there isn't a single moving part out of place . . . The jokes are superb . . . a zestful romp? Undoubtedly. But that doesn't quite do justice to the experience of reading Madness is Better than Defeat. The book is certainly a literary performance of a high order . . . The clockwork runs beautifully. Every paragraph gives pleasure. - Kevin Power, Literary Review
Almost perfect . . . This is one of the most purely enjoyable novels I've read in years - by turns sad, moving, thoughtful, intriguing, clever, enlightening, surprising and laugh-out-loud funny - which is more than enough. I can't think of any type of reader who wouldn't enjoy it: whether your thing is genre, literary or, like this, a fizzling, sparking, sparkling mixture of the two. - Darragh McManus, Irish Independent
A teaming shaggy-dog comedy of megalomania and obsession . . . Beauman is a sparkling writer, and his book bustles with diverting micro-narratives . . . A novel of great intelligence and humour, cleverly structured and brimming with tricks . . . a tremendous rainbow - Tim Martin, New Statesman
Beauman has a gift: he's a natural comic writer. (I've only read one funnier book this year) - Cal Revely-Calder, Guardian
It reminded me of a Coen brothers film . . . I found it enchanting, and I was happy to turn every page . . . I really enjoyed it - Tom Sutcliffe, BBC Radio 4 Saturday Review
I am really enjoying it . . . I have no clue what's going to happen when I turn the page - Inua Ellams, BBC Radio 4 Saturday Review
Wildly plotted, comedic . . . One senses that behind the vivacious plotting and baroque characterisation, Beauman's purpose is to question the "madness" of artistic endeavor . . . he emerges from his latest expedition triumphant. - Carl Wilkinson, Financial Times
Beauman's fourth novel provides his usual humour, oddities, convolutions and impressive writing. - Mail on Sunday
A fun madcap mystery - Daily Mail
Wildly original . . . Madness could easily become a confusing mess but Beauman manages to keep the narrative consistently focused and engaging. This madcap ride about the eccentricities of humans will keep you entertained till the last page - Bookriot
Typically quirky . . . Zany and sprawling - Tatler
Beauman writes with rare and bizarre brilliance - Sunday Telegraph
Set in the early 20th century , the novel follows two excursions; one led by a 30 something socialite whose father has decided to ask him with the simple task to uproot a newly discovered Mayan temple and bring it... More
Set in 1938, two different expeditions travel into the jungle to a recently discovered Mayan temple. A rich and eccentric businessman wishes to dismantle the temple and ship it stone by stone to New York. The other... More
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