Harry August, born in northern England in 1919 dies an old man only to be born again, in the precisely same time and place and circumstances, the full memories of his former life returning as his infant brain develops. And this happens again, and again, and again. But the events of his life are not set; he can use the knowledge and education and skills he has accumulated to advance himself and move on more quickly from the same humble beginnings, and he discovers that he is not alone. While rare, there are other individuals who in the same circular way - "ouroborans" - who often store knowledge and look to help those recently returned to youth. As his lives progress Harry becomes aware that something in the future is amiss, something that will lead to the end of the world and is getting closer with each incarnation. 
 It's been awhile since I've been gripped so much by a book. It took hold of me from the start, a fine mix of a wit, humour, tense plotting, great characterisation, excellent writing and a superb central idea explored fully. 
 As do all very good books, this works on several levels. As the literary thriller with a twist it is on its face, as a philosophical discussion of the enduring momentum of events compared to mayfly flicker of individual lives, perhaps as an exploration of the stages each of us goes through in our normal span of life. 
 Of course, I have to address this book's similar concept to Kate AtkinsonKate Atkinson's Life After LifeLife After Life - both published very close together in early 2014. Yes, Claire North's prose is not as good as Atkinson's (hardly a criticism as the multi-award winning Atkinson has been in the game for a lot longer and is one hell of a writer). What is truly worth pointing out is how, from such a similar central idea (even happening to be set across a fairly similar historical stage) each writer has woven such an utterly distinct tapestry. Both books are literary, by turns funny and sobering, gripping and thoughtful and deep, but quite, quite different. 
 Sure, Harry August is not without flaws - there is the occasional clumsiness to the writing (massively overwhelmed by some very good writing and truly breathtaking plotting) and a the odd time where I had to actively suspend disbelief to do with the accelerating pace of technological advancement - but the sheer joy and wit and humanity and unashamed cleverness of this novel means anything less than five stars would be churlish.