'enthralling' - john banville, booker prize-winning author of the sea 'effortlessly beautiful, funny, sexy and wise' - julie myerson, books of the year, observer all that is explores a life unfolding in a world on the brink of change. the life is that of philip bowman and we see his formative experiences as a young naval officer in battles off okinawa, his career as a book editor in new york after the second world war, his trips to the great european cities - from publishing parties in london, to romantic holidays in paris. but despite his success, what eludes him is love. his first marriage sours, another fails to happen. finally, he meets a woman who enthralls him, before setting him on a course he could never imagine for himself. james salter's dazzling, seductive and haunting novel offers a fiercely intimate account of the great shocks and grand pleasures of being alive. 'full of verve and wisdom' - julian barnes, booker prize-winning author of the sense of an ending part of the picador collection, a series showcasing the best of modern literature.