Customer Reviews:
 One of the best novels of the century June 20, 2008
M. Duncan (UK)
Joyce Cary's novel is well known amongst academics as one of the finest novels ever written about the creative instinct. To the public at large, however, it is relatively unknown. Originally written as part of a trilogy which looked at events from the point of view of three different characters, The Horse's Mouth, a comic novel, is the most successful. The protagonist, Gulley Jimson, is an artist, and nothing else matters to him but the pursuit of his art. He will lie, cheat, steal - anything to get his hands on some canvas, or a wall, and some paint. Carey's prose is beautifully poetic, with painterly descriptions of london, interspersed with quotations from the artist's beloved Blake. Reading this novel really gives you a sense of what it might be like to inhabit the mind of a genius, or indeed anyone who is possessed by an all-encompassing obsession. That said, this is a comic novel, and there are laughs throughout the book. The laughter is often tragic, and the jokes are often profound. I really cannot recommend this book highly enough.
A great re-read January 18, 2004
Carol Sadler (U.K.)
12 out of 12 found this review helpful
I first read this book years ago, and at the time decided it was one of the best books I had ever read. A recent re-read confirms this, and I'm disappointed it didn't make the top 100 books in a recent "Great Reads" list I saw - it should have! This is a terrific tale of an artist at work, and is unusual in that Gulley Jimson goes into great detail about the creative process that inspires him. His descriptions of London are wonderful, and his story is funny, sad, and never dull - it races along, and the unpredictable twists and turns are always entertaining. Highly recommended.
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