In 1972, the book won the Whitbread Award, and was shortlisted for the Booker Prize.

Susan Hill commented in 2006, "A novel of mine was shortlisted for Booker and won the Whitbread Prize for Fiction.

His companion Harvey Lawson tried to protect him for 20 years, together they spent time in Venice and then Francis travelled to America.

[2] Star-News is positive "The intriguing saga of Francis and his journey through life, and madness, is a story worthy of the finest storyteller.

The emphasis on finest detail and the close relation between a character's mental condition and physical age provide an engrossing chronicle...A part of the reason for the ability of Hill to convey the madness theme is the presence of a second character, Harvey Lawson.