The Quantity Theory of Morality: A Novel

**“Self is the most daring and delightful novelist of his generation.”— *Guardian***
**A blistering, brilliant novel from the Booker-shortlisted author, elegantly reflecting his Geoffrey Faber Memorial award-winning story collection *The Quantity Theory of Insanity***
In *The Quantity Theory of Morality* , Will Self’s unconventional new novel, his pen remains dipped in vitriol and elegance as ever. In this dark yet hilariously satirical “state-of-an-era novel,” Self’s target is a collective morality that is nothing more or less than pure sociability. His middle-class, middle-English characters appear trapped in a timeless go-round of polite chitchat in dinner parties that refract like a hall of mirrors as the novel progresses, until one day someone says something to the effect of, “This way to the gas chamber, please, ladies and gentlemen.” *The Quantity Theory of Morality* finally solves the equation of time and money that dominates our lives, in a way that is simultaneously deranging, destabilizing, and hilarious.
With recurring—if defeated—appearances from now-canonical characters like Zack Busner, the repetition of each chapter, or “Proposition” shows Will Self to be both a master of satire and slapstick humor and a sublime and thoughtful critic of the alienation of modern life. With *The Quantity Theory of Morality* , Self provides the sequel to his award-winning debut of 34 years ago: *The Quantity Theory of Insanity*. That literary psycho-surgery proved there wasn't enough sanity go around—now he's established what many of us fear to be the absolute truth: there isn't enough good to go around, either.