: The book was originally titled The God of Illusions before being changed.

"Inverted detective story" (a "whydunit" rather than a "whodunit").

: A central idea throughout the text is that true beauty is inherently terrifying. The characters—led by the brooding Henry Winter—strive for an aesthetic perfection that ultimately leads to moral ruin.

: Rights have been held by everyone from Alan J. Pakula to Gwyneth Paltrow , but every attempt at an adaptation has stalled or been abandoned .