From Publishers Weekly
"What is this thing called love," asks Weldon's latest flaky/wise heroine in the first sentence of this idiosyncratic exploration of economics, politics and spirituality in the Western world. Eleanor Darcy, a national figure whose economist husband was recently jailed for misuse of public funds, is being interviewed by Hugo Vansitart and Valerie Jones, two journalists who have fallen in love, precipitously, upon the eve of their respective assignments. "In Darcy's Utopia. . . " Eleanor declares continually as she describes for each writer her--or her husband's--vision of a world uncomplicated by either rules, monetary systems or families. Born to a teenager (whose mother eventually married Eleanor's father) and originally named Apricot, becoming Ellen when she wed her first husband, Eleanor has embraced Roman Catholicism and Marxism before grabbing onto utopianism. Meanwhile, Valerie and Hugo, living in a Holiday Inn, cope with the families they have left in response to their shared passion, which Weldon slyly suggests may have originated with the Devil. Although amorphous and inconclusive, the latest satire from the author of The Cloning of Joanna May is ambitious, provocative and unremittingly entertaining. Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal
On the eve of interviewing the fabulous and elusive Eleanor Darcy, journalists Valerie and Hugo meet and shack up in a hotel on the dubious strength of Hugo's credit card. As Eleanor (nee Apricot Smith) expounds her utopian plans for religion, education, sex, and money, their spontaneous passion changes course. Weldon mingles tart social commentary and political satire in a novel that is both somber and very funny. The question and answer format is awkward, however; and the humor is very British. Weldon is the author of plays, nonfiction, and such novels as The Life and Loves of a She-devil. Buy this one where there is demand. Previewed in Prepub Alert, LJ 11/1/90.- Maurice Taylor, Brunswick Cty. Lib., Southport, N.C.Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From the Publisher
'Weird, wild and wonderful reading.' - Best 'Fay Weldon provokes you to think. You'd expect -no less of the social and sexual soothsayer of our literary times.' - Company 'Weaves a provocative view of modern society into a tale of explosive love and, perhaps, even, black magic. This is a dazzling tour de force from one of Britain's most inspiring and intelligent novelists today.' - Cosmopolitan 'A crash course in philosophy, religion, politics and idealism, with sexual passion, love and the nature of betrayal thrown in.' - Woman's Journal 'A funny, irreverent, extremely witty book, about women's lot in today's world.' - Irish Press 'Darcy's Utopia is among the most frolicsome of her novels, but it still manages to display her quiet, grave insistence that we change our ways.' - Sunday Times 'She conjures away with her diverse properties - high comedy, political science, black magic as a clever juggler might deal simultaneously with an orange, a football and an inflated balloon.' - Guardian

FROM THE PUBLISHER

The author of the novels Life Force, The Hearts and Lives of Men, and The Life and Loves of a She-Devil offers an irreverent, wildly funny, and unerringly persuasive answer to the ever-enticing question: If I ruled the world, what would I do? "A wickedly funny, multilayered treatise on feminism, marriage, sex, journalism, and the class system".--People.

FROM THE CRITICS

Publishers Weekly

``What is this thing called love,'' asks Weldon's latest flaky/wise heroine in the first sentence of this idiosyncratic exploration of economics, politics and spirituality in the Western world. Eleanor Darcy, a national figure whose economist husband was recently jailed for misuse of public funds, is being interviewed by Hugo Vansitart and Valerie Jones, two journalists who have fallen in love, precipitously, upon the eve of their respective assignments. ``In Darcy's Utopia. . . '' Eleanor declares continually as she describes for each writer her--or her husband's--vision of a world uncomplicated by either rules, monetary systems or families. Born to a teenager (whose mother eventually married Eleanor's father) and originally named Apricot, becoming Ellen when she wed her first husband, Eleanor has embraced Roman Catholicism and Marxism before grabbing onto utopianism. Meanwhile, Valerie and Hugo, living in a Holiday Inn, cope with the families they have left in response to their shared passion, which Weldon slyly suggests may have originated with the Devil. Although amorphous and inconclusive, the latest satire from the author of The Cloning of Joanna May is ambitious, provocative and unremittingly entertaining. (Mar.)

Library Journal