The founder of "Babelia," the Spanish newspaper El Pais's literary supplement, Murillo has translated authors like Vladimir Nabokov, Tom Wolfe, and Truman Capote, and he's written two novels, including El centro del mundo (The Center of the World, Anagrama, 1988). Here, he portrays the internal struggle of a divorced playboy. After winning the lottery, Arturo embarks on a pilgrimage to the Parthenon, convinced that the goddess Athena will answer his questions about his life and the world. During his visit, Arturo has visions in various instances he sees himself walking next to his double and believes that they are heavenly revelations sent by the gods as a sign that his visit will definitely change his life. He also gets together with several women hotel maids, bartenders, and tourist package companions but fails to find the love that he longs for. With a captivating rhythm, Murillo delves into the anxieties of a man trying to understand why it is so difficult to love and why the world is falling apart. Murillo handles Arturo's profound existential questioning with a simple, yet captivating prose. Recommended for academic and public libraries and bookstores that carry contemporary fiction from Spain. Lourdes Vazquez, Rutgers Univ. Libs., New Brunswick, NJ (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved