And as the time draws ever nearer for one or other Dr Wilfred - or possibly both - to give the eagerly awaited lecture, so Skios - Greece - Europe - career off their appointed track.

Longlisted for the Man Booker Prize, this is a dazzling story of mislaid identity, misdirected passion and miscalculated consequences, set on the sunlit Greek island of Skios. Frayn's other successful and award-winning titles include "Headlong" and "Spies". Sure to delight fans of Michael Frayn's comedies like "Noises Off" and "Clockwise". 'A deliciously absurd scenario and, in the hands of a master farceur like Michael Frayn, it just gets better and better...' "Mail On Sunday" Hardback jacket image.