Haddon dives into a swirling story of Shakespearean intrigue

FICTION: The Porpoise; By Mark Haddon; Chatto & Windus, €17.50

Mark Haddon’s latest novel exists in the gauzy twilight of a febrile nightmare. Even with the contemporary setting and mention of modern devices, the initial story of The Porpoise feels as though it is rooted in a dreamlike nether world.

Ostensibly a repurposing of Shakespeare’s Pericles, The Porpoise begins with the saga of Philippe, a husband devastated by the sudden loss of his ...