Flauberts Parrot (Isis)
by Julian Barnes
Category: England

In Julian Barnes's new novel, the grotesque visionary tycoon Sir Jack Pitman fits the whole of England onto the Isle of Wight. Starting from the premise that most tourists are only interested in the top attractions and are as satisfied with a replica as with the real thing, he constructs on the island 'The Project', a vast heritage centre containing everything 'English', from Buck House to Stonehenge, from Manchester United to the White Cliffs of Dover.