'Elinor Lipman's latest novel brings together the rare combination of intelligence, wit, and wisdom. A jewel of a book.' Carol Shields'Imagine, if you can, a cross between Philip Roth and Melissa Bank.'Maggie O'Farrell Independent on Sunday'I started to underline all the bits of Alice Thrift that either amazed or tickled me, but I finally had to quit: there were simply too many.' Anita Shreve'About the best trick any writer can possess is the ability to make everything look easy, even to other writers who know better. Elinor Lipman possesses this gift in spades, and The Pursuit of Alice Thrift treats head, heart and funnybone with equal respect.' Richard Russo'Elinor Lipman was born with an ear for dialogue sharper than an electronic listening system. Her situations and her characters sparkle with life.' Elizabeth Buchan, The Times‘Eleanor Lipman's dialogue of acidic and the comic ending is refreshingly unsentimental. She has created an unexpectedly endearing, well observed heroine.' Daily Telegraph‘This is a deliciously acerbic comedy, and Dr Thrift's scalpel-sharp wit is worthy of Jane Austen.' Daily Mail