Mefisto Paperback – May 1, 1999

In this modern day interpretation of the "Faust" legend, Banville uses his tremendous literary prowess to bring the reader a blended version of multiple recitations of the story. Banville references no less than 15 different versions of the story. Of particular note are the following versions which are directly referenced by Banville in his book: Goethe's "Faust Dante's "Inferno" Rimbaud's "A Season In Hell" Shakespeare's "The Tempest" Conrad's "End of the Tether" & "Heart of Darkness" Huxley's "Brave New World" Benet's "The Devil & Daniel Webster" Irving's "The Devil & Tom Walker" Melville's "The Confidence Game"The prose of Banville's book is alluring, erudite and profane. He uses his incredible literary mind and his vision of the Dark Side of Life/Death as his reference points in conveying an amazingly graphic and fetid version of the legend. His version uses a poor boy's accidental experiences with the agents of the Devil to illustrate how a person can be seduced by seemingly wonderful and delicious temptations in the world. His most prevalent seductions are sex, drugs, money and liquor.With these real world lures, his characters are sucked into the world of Lucifer and trade their souls for mundane pleasures. All around them are the signs of the horror of this trade. Yet his characters ignore the obvious signals that would warn them of the dangers for the allure of the indulgences that surround and tempt them. By using a poor child with an innate gift for mathematics, Banville allows his protagonist to be lured by the Devil's agents into cavorting with the seemlier side of life's satisfactions. With these elements, Banville allows Gabrielle Swan to skip down the path of so many, as they try to fulfill and amplify their lives by indulging in sexual escapades, opiated experiences and drunken wildness.It is the great beauty of Banville's articulation that gives the reader such a wonderfully amazing taste of the experiences that Swan tries in his journey. And likewise, it is with these same talents that Banville illustrates the Hell that Swan suffers through in repayment for his innocent forays into the world of the evil and seductive. Yet that is what makes this book one of the great renditions of the Faust story. There are over 150 versions of the story in every artistic format imaginable. Prose, poetry, art, music, films and even cartoons have depicted the legend. But Banville sets himself apart from most others through his use of verbiage that paints a portrait which is so tactile that the reader feels he has been literally touched by Swan's experience.Because of Banville's frequent references to other versions of the legend, the more familiar the reader is with other authors' renditions of the story, the more interesting Banville's illustration becomes. Yet, he is not neglectful to call attention to most of the greatest versions of the story. And his lessons are as complex and complete as any of those who have come before him.This book is a mature piece of literature. It should not be attempted by the weak of heart. Nor should it be attempted by those under the age of 18. The more literate the reader, the more interesting the story becomes. And perhaps, the older the reader, the more personal the story becomes. But it is one of those versions which is unique in its own way, yet also relies on the genius of others to amplify the messages and the reader's experience with his book. It is highly recommended for those who have a familiarity with the Legend and it is highly recommended for mature readers who are interested in the dark side of life and its representation in literature. If a reader has these proclivities, they should not pass up the opportunity to read Banville's version herein.

John Banville has a way of engaging the reader throughout. I read his work for pleasure but also for insights into improving my own writing. His prose is subtly poetic. I highly recommend this book for anyone interested in delving deeper into the human psyche. As it's dust-jacket says, Mephisto is a modern day take on the Faust legend.

The story of Faustus (or Faust, as he would become irrevocably better-known after Goethe was done with him) is probably one of the most durable myths of Western culture. The story of a man who makes a deal with the devil that he can never be happy or satisfied despite all the devil's best efforts (with divine permission), and that if he is, he will be immediately damned, seems to be eternally applicable to the present day.John Banville's take on this legend is set in the author's native Ireland; the main character is a slightly autistic mathematical genius and the Mephisto of the title is a thin young man named Felix who has a genius with sly jokes. The first part of the story is set in the protagonist's native village, while the second part finds him in Dublin (which Banville only ever calls "the city") at the nadir of that city's crack-addicted 1980s.The Irish are generally supposed to have a way with words, and I don't think there are enough in our shared language to convey the depth of Banville's skill in that department. His language is quite simply amazing: supple, economical, rich, well-chosen and pitch-perfect. Moreover, Banville does a similarly superb job in handling the Faustus legend and remaking it for the present day; his source seems to be Goethe for the most part, but he isn't afraid to reject, adapt or rearrange the elements of the most famous version of the legend to suit his purposes.Overall "Mefisto" is an amazing book, but for my taste the story seemed at times too much of a coatrack on which Banville hung the trappings of Faustus. Although it is undoubtedly due in part to his temperament, our main character more often seemed secondary to his constructed role as a modern Faust than the primary focus of his own story. In other, plainer words, Banville lets the medieval myth overwhelm his modern Ireland quite a few times. Still, there are far worse crimes which "Mefisto" doesn't commit, and if any country were suited to the mythic modern it probably is Ireland. "Mefisto" will most likely leave you wanting more, but there's plenty more (equally if not more excellent) Banville books to choose from in that case.

This reader has yet to be disappointed by anything written by John Banville and certainly enjoyed this aesthetfcally exciting variation on the Faust legend.

Really nice book with some deeply evocative language. Banville says so much with such economy of phrase. Great stuff.

An interesting, contemporary, but at time harrowing, working of the Faust/Mephistopheles story. Banfield is such an imaginative user of the English language that it is a joy and a lesson to read his works.

Durch die Vorfälle auf der Kölner Domplatte und anderswo ist der Begriff des Antanzens um jegliche positive Notation und Konnotation gebracht worden, als Werkzeug der Beschreibung für Banvilles Prosa könnte er sich erholen. Der Autor nähert sich seinen Erzählgegenständen, ohne sie anzurempeln oder anzufassen, sie sind empfindlich und könnten verletzt werden, was die Figuren des Buches anbelangt, so sind sie wahrhaftig schon verletzt genug. Oft tanzen die Wörter zurück und dann wieder vor: All wrong this geography, or do I mean topography? It doesn't matter. - Spring came early that year. No, I'm wrong, it came late. But when it came it was glorious.Es heißt, bei der Niederschrift von Mefisto sei Banville an den Rand des Nervenzusammenbruchs geraten oder auch über den Rand hinaus. Als das Buch erschien, war es ein Flop. Mefisto zählt sicher zu Banvilles schönsten Bücher.

I purchased the Kindle version of this book yesterday evening, finished it, bleary-eyed, at 6am this morning and - having slept for a little over five hours - am already rereading it!Prepare to be transported by Banville's sumptuous prose in this fantastic philosophical rollercoaster. He has that utterly enviable way of making everything and everyone spring to life; images form effortlessly in your mind's eye, characters and places embed themselves as if they were your own memories - the mark of a true literary genius!Simply superb, and absolutely deserving of a place on every reader's bookshelf.5 Super-Shiny Gold Stars!

Banville has a melancholy elegance that is both profoundly irish and yet unique. This book takes you places in your imagination no other writer captures.

This is the fifth of his novels I've read and I shall keep going. The beauty of the prose and language keeps the story flowing once again.