• Jerusalem Post  “A prurient, often voyeuristic, unbearably self-conscious, digressive and tedious agglomeration of pages.” Israel, Feb 22, 2002.

• Washington Post  “O’Neill wallows in a surface play of historical and literary references, gluttonous pastiches, wooden characterizations and – most troubling of all – unconscionable clichés.” Washington, April 14, 2002.

• Irish Independent  “At Sea, One Novelist.” Dublin, Sept 9, 2001.

• Scotland on Sunday  “So little sparks, enchants, or happens over this long book that I am at a loss to explain its hype.” Edinburgh, Aug 8, 2001.