"Lever begins the very necessary work of bridging the gap between generalist studies of European or British satire and the idiosyncrasies of Australian satirical writing ... In allowing Foster's voice within the book's narrative in a manner that recalls Swift's use of footnotes and asides, Lever signals her sympathy with Foster's project and her lively engagement with theories of satire ... Her approach is richly suggestive, showing Fostefras a novelist reminiscent not only of White, but of the major European satirists--Lewis, James Joyce, Laurence Sterne." - Australian Literary Studies
"Remarkable in many ways ... Lever’s analysis is entertainingly accessible and navigates a path through the extremes of contemporary literary theory to explain Foster’s complex philosophical ideas and stylistic idiosyncrasies. In addition, Lever interweaves a portrait of Foster himself that offers many insights into his persona and personality." - JASAL
"Like her subject, Lever has taken chances and it has paid off." - The Australian Literary Review
"An insightful critical study." - Australian Book Review
"An excellent account." - Canberra Times
"A meticulous and scholarly study of Foster's writing." - Westerly
"Susan Lever’s comprehensive study of Foster’s work and career rightly emphasises the fundamental source of Foster’s satire...Susan Lever’s sympathetic study of a difficult but rewarding writer will do much, I trust, to rekindle interest in this most individual and challenging of our contemporaries, Patrick White’s worthy successor." – Andrew Riemer, Chief Reviewer for the Sydney Morning Herald