* A spellbinding adventure, blending the threads of philosophy, fantasy and reality * The Solitaire Mystery can be read as the prequel to the bestselling Sophies World * Sophies World has already sold over 3 million copies worldwide and was still in the top ten on the bestseller list seven months after publication * Critical acclaim for Sophies World * 'A marvellously rich book. Its success boils down to something quite simple Gaarder's gift for communicating ideas' Guardian * 'An extraordinary achievement' Sunday Times * A simply wonderful, irresistible book' Daily Telegraph

Jostein Gaarder is the author of SOPHIE'S WORLD, a huge bestseller in over 40 countries. He was born in Oslo in 1952 and lives there now with his wife and two sons.