Is there a numerical solution to the quest for the meaning of life? A brilliant reworking of the classic Dr Faustus theme by Booker Prize-winning author John Banville, Mefisto focuses on the mathematically gifted Gabriel Swan, who seeks a numerical solution to his quest for order and meaning in life. With characteristic wit and mesmeric prose, John Banville's richly imagined novel, Mefisto, is an ode to philosophy, beauty, and identity.