Loving Mephistopheles

by Miranda Miller

Jenny is a third-rate music-hall chanteuse living in Edwardian London. When she remarks to her mentor and lover Leo that she never wants to grow old, she is unwittingly making a pact with the Devil. Her contract to love him will reside at the Metaphysical Bank in High Street Kensington—forever. Leo has lived through thousands of years in numerous incarnations. As he gleefully exploits what 20th century London has to offer—as a magician ("the Great Pantoffsky"), fighter pilot, coke dealer, city banker—Jenny finds that the joy of eternal youth is short-lived. Her unchanging appearance provokes questions and Jenny has to move abroad or constantly reinvent herself. For 60 years she has to pass herself off as her own offspring. When she bears a real daughter that may or may not be Leo's, his destructive nature comes to the fore. She flees from him and destroys the contract that she has never read. At the same time Leo understands that Jenny is the one woman that he has truly loved and that perhaps it is time the Devil made a stab at family life, whatever the consequences. A compelling journey through 20th-century Europe and beyond, Miranda Miller’s ingenious take on the Faust story is by turns humorous, erotic, and terrifying.

285 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2007

Reviews

[Rob · Rating 2 out of 5]

Just didn't grab me. Clever though slightly derivative idea ruined by laboured plot and prose.

[Carrie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I so wanted to read and like this book. I love the idea of it.
I am sad I couldn't complete it and find out what happened! I loved the beginning and wanted to know more I just felt in the middle it dragged on -and lost interest as I read it all before.
Its not often I don't finish a book - maybe my high expectation ruined it for me. I have read a couple of books on a similar theme and enjoy them more.

[Janine Barber · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to love this book. The idea, the cover, the title all perfect. But it was just so hard to get into, the premise lost on a rather dull story. The ending was ridiculous and disappointing