# The Calligrapher > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/The_Calligrapher > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/The_Calligrapher.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Calligrapher > Source revision: 1354746154 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) ***The Calligrapher*** is the [debut novel](/source/Debut_novel) of [Edward Docx](/source/Edward_Docx), published in 2003. It was selected by both *[San Francisco Chronicle](/source/San_Francisco_Chronicle)* and *[San Jose Mercury](/source/San_Jose_Mercury)* as a 'Best Book of the Year'.[1] It was also a finalist for the [William Saroyan International Prize for Writing](/source/William_Saroyan_International_Prize_for_Writing). As of 2012 it had been translated into eight languages.[2] ## Plot introduction Narrated by Jasper Jackson, an accomplished [calligrapher](/source/Western_calligraphy) and serial seducer living off [Warwick Avenue, London](/source/Warwick_Avenue,_London), the story tells how his seemingly perfect life unravels when his most recent infidelity is discovered and his girlfriend Lucy leaves him. Jasper, though, is soon captivated by a new neighbour Madeleine Belmont, a travel-writer, whilst he is commissioned to transcribe the Songs and Sonnets of [John Donne](/source/John_Donne) for a wealthy American businessman. The book describes his growing love and commitment to Madeleine, illuminated by observations from the sonnets he is transcribing. But will his relationship with Madeleine last? ## Reception - [Stephen Metcalf](/source/Stephen_Metcalf_(writer)) in the *[New York Times](/source/New_York_Times)* writes 'Docx, a columnist by trade, frequently writes like a columnist by habit, in terse editorial sound bites... Nonetheless, the pace is mostly brisk, the tone most often light, and there are a few streaks of fiendish cleverness.'[3] - Diane White of *[The Boston Globe](/source/The_Boston_Globe)* describes it as 'a delight, a witty, deftly written, honest comedy of manners', 'a novel that is as intelligent and sophisticated as it is light and funny'.[4] - Mark Rozzo of the *[Los Angeles Times](/source/Los_Angeles_Times)* warns "At times, you wonder whether Docx isn't almost too fluent. Like his sure-handed hero, he has a flair for flourishes and curlicues. Yet there's something undeniably winning about a novel that dares to use the randy love poems of John Donne as a running thread (each chapter corresponds to a song or sonnet that Jasper is transcribing) and yet somehow manages to come off as a [Fox Searchlight Pictures](/source/Fox_Searchlight_Pictures) comedy coming to a theater near you.[5] - *[The Economist](/source/The_Economist)* concludes with "The beauty of Donne's words provides a satisfyingly crisp contrast to the book's laddish, laugh-aloud dialogue and strong characterisation is maintained throughout. Charmer and philanderer he may be, but Jasper's optimism and zest for life give him the appeal of a man ruled by both his head and his heart. If readers can suspend disbelief at the painfully shocking double-whammy served up at the end of the story, then this stylishly written, pacy novel is a sexy, satisfying read."[6] ## References 1. ["Edward Docx"](https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/160144.Edward_Docx). *www.goodreads.com*. Retrieved 2023-04-21. 1. ["How to structure your novel: A weekend workshop"](https://www.theguardian.com/guardian-masterclasses/2015/aug/26/how-to-structure-your-novel-a-weekend-workshop-ed-docx-writing-course). *The Guardian*. 2015-08-26. [ISSN 0261-3077](https://www.worldcat.org/issn/0261-3077). Retrieved 2023-04-21. 1. Metcalf, Stephen (2003-11-02). ["No Lad Is an Island"](https://www.nytimes.com/2003/11/02/books/no-lad-is-an-island.html). *The New York Times*. [ISSN 0362-4331](https://www.worldcat.org/issn/0362-4331). Retrieved 2023-04-21. 1. White (2003-11-09). ["In war and peace, two selfish seducers follow their bliss"](https://www.boston.com/ae/books/articles/2003/11/09/in_war_and_peace_two_selfish_seducers_follow_their_blissfollow_their_bliss). The Boston Globe. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20160304221432/http://www.boston.com/ae/books/articles/2003/11/09/in_war_and_peace_two_selfish_seducers_follow_their_blissfollow_their_bliss/) 2016-03-04 at the Wayback Machine. 1. Rozzo, Mark (2003-11-16). ["First Fiction"](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2003-nov-16-bk-rozzo16-story.html). *Los Angeles Times*. Retrieved 2023-04-21. 1. ["The pursuit of love"](https://www.economist.com/books-and-arts/2003/10/23/the-pursuit-of-love). *The Economist*. [ISSN 0013-0613](https://www.worldcat.org/issn/0013-0613). Retrieved 2023-04-21. ## External links - [Official website](http://www.edwarddocx.com/calligrapher.html) - ["Book Reviews - *The Calligrapher* by Edward Docx"](https://web.archive.org/web/20160304002007/http://www.reviewsofbooks.com/calligrapher/) at Reviews of Books. --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [The Calligrapher](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Calligrapher) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Calligrapher?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.