Mona Lisa (Pushkin Collection) - Softcover

'Brilliant... excellently written and fearsomely gripping' The Times (of London)

'Very few novels published in recent years match itsdaunting panache... a terrific book, one to read and then urge everyone else tofollow suit... truly clever' EileenBattersby, Irish Times

'A fascinating snapshot of Vienna between the wars, pacey and entertaining' Guardian

'I thoroughly enjoyed this short book because of the characterisation of Da Vinci and the little mystery surrounding the empty tomb of Mona Lisa' --The Bookbinder's Daughter

Alexander Lernet-Holenia (1897-1976) was a prolific and popular screenwriter, wrote several novels (including the acclaimed noir thriller I Was Jack Mortimer, published by Pushkin Press), was a multi-award winning lyrical poet admired by Rilke and Hofmannsthal, and earned Stefan Zweig's praise as the 'most noble of our dramatic poets'. Though greatly admired as a writer, his delight in provocation frequently made him unpopular with the authorities - be it the National Socialist Ministry of Propaganda during the war, or the tax office and the army after it. He nevertheless collected all the most important national literary awards, including the Great Austrian State Prize, and was elected the President of Austrian PEN in 1969.