Wonders of a Godless World - Tapa blanda

‘At the heart of this mad novel is a debate about madness itself. Extraordinary.’ THE TIMES

‘McGahan is a fabulous writer, not only because of the quality of his writing but also because of his courage as an artist.’ SYDNEY MORNING HERALD

‘...this novel is an impressively sustained feat of imagination.’ AUSTRALIAN BOOK REVIEW

‘An insightful journey into passion, the nature of reality and what we are prepared to give up to remain human.’ SOUTH WALES ARGUS

‘...I was totally swept up by the passion and energy of McGahan’s writing, the hint of something truly profound lurking within the narrative...I’ll be recommending it to as many people as possible.’ CANBERRA TIMES

‘The writing rises to invigorating heights.’ SUNDAY TASMANIAN

An electrifying, tumultuous story of inner demons, desire and devastation.

On an unnamed island, in a Gothic hospital sitting in the shadow of a volcano, a wordless orphan girl works on the wards housing the insane and the incapable. She counts amongst her patients a virgin, an archangel, a duke and a witch.

Everything appears fine until a silent, unmoving and unnerving new patient arrives from foreign climes. He claims to be immortal. Suddenly strange phenomena occur, bizarre murders take place, and the lives of the patients and the island's inhabitants are thrown into turmoil. What happens between the orphan and her beguiling new patient is an extraordinary exploration of consciousness, reality and madness.