Lessons
the Sunday Times bestselling new novel from the author of Atonement
Published on 22. June 2023
Book
Paperback/Softback
496 pages
978-1-5291-1631-1 (ISBN)
Description
The story of a life. The story of the year.
'Lessons shows [McEwan] at the very peak of his powers. He has written his masterpiece' Daily Telegraph
When the world is still counting the cost of the Second World War and the Iron Curtain has descended, young Roland Baines's life is turned upside down. Stranded at boarding school, his vulnerability attracts his piano teacher, Miriam Cornell, leaving scars as well as a memory of love that will never fade.
Twenty-five years later Roland's wife mysteriously vanishes, and he is left alone with their baby son. Her disappearance sparks of journey of discovery that will continue for decades, as Roland confronts the reality of his rootless existence and attempts to embrace the uncertainty - and freedom - of his future.
'Ian McEwan is a masterful storyteller' Elif Shafak
'A beautiful book about love, loss and regret' Observer
'Luminous, beautifully written... about lives imperfectly lived' Vogue
'A whole, unruly life between the covers of a single book: a literary feat' Spectator
'A tour de force... A single life is silhouetted against global happenings' Sunday Times
* A Book of the Year for The Times, Sunday Times, Financial Times, Spectator, New Statesman, Washington Post, Vogue and New Yorker *
'Lessons shows [McEwan] at the very peak of his powers. He has written his masterpiece' Daily Telegraph
When the world is still counting the cost of the Second World War and the Iron Curtain has descended, young Roland Baines's life is turned upside down. Stranded at boarding school, his vulnerability attracts his piano teacher, Miriam Cornell, leaving scars as well as a memory of love that will never fade.
Twenty-five years later Roland's wife mysteriously vanishes, and he is left alone with their baby son. Her disappearance sparks of journey of discovery that will continue for decades, as Roland confronts the reality of his rootless existence and attempts to embrace the uncertainty - and freedom - of his future.
'Ian McEwan is a masterful storyteller' Elif Shafak
'A beautiful book about love, loss and regret' Observer
'Luminous, beautifully written... about lives imperfectly lived' Vogue
'A whole, unruly life between the covers of a single book: a literary feat' Spectator
'A tour de force... A single life is silhouetted against global happenings' Sunday Times
* A Book of the Year for The Times, Sunday Times, Financial Times, Spectator, New Statesman, Washington Post, Vogue and New Yorker *
Reviews / Votes
Lessons is easily McEwan's most accomplished novel since Atonement... he offers intelligent reflection on his novel's evergreen themes. * The Times * I loved Lessons... Deep, life-affirming and A-grade storytelling. * The Times * Thoughtful, tender and both universal and timeless in its depiction of the follies of the human heart... Ian McEwan is a masterful storyteller who weaves destiny and self-determination, the past and the future, youth and age, and above all, the loss and memory of love. -- Elif Shafak Captures youthful lust and late-age regret with equal power. * Financial Times * Superb... another mesmerising, memorable novel. * Independent * Irresistible and a joy to read. -- Antony Beevor * Spectator, Books of the Year * McEwan's writing is as elegant and ideas-packed as ever. * The Times * Elegant and moving, it's his best work in 20 years. * Sunday Times, *Summer Reads of 2023* * McEwan returns with his best work since the Booker- and NBCC-winning Atonement...Throughout, McEwan poignantly shows how the characters contend with major historical moments while dealing with the ravages of daily life, which is what makes this so affecting. He also employs lyrical but pared-down prose to great effect . . . Once more, the masterly McEwan delights. * Publishers Weekly [starred review] * McEwan deftly explores the interplay of will and chance, time and memory. * Washington Post *More details
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Vintage Publishing
Product notice
Paperback (UK-B)
Dimensions
Height: 195 mm
Width: 126 mm
Thickness: 33 mm
Weight
394 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-5291-1631-1 (9781529116311)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Person
Ian McEwan is the critically acclaimed author of nineteen novels and two short story collections. His first published work, a collection of short stories, First Love, Last Rites, won the Somerset Maugham Award. His novels include The Child in Time, which won the 1987 Whitbread Novel of the Year Award; The Cement Garden; Enduring Love; Amsterdam, which won the 1998 Booker Prize; Atonement; Saturday; On Chesil Beach; Solar; Sweet Tooth; The Children Act; Nutshell; Machines Like Me; and Lessons. Atonement, Enduring Love, The Children Act and On Chesil Beach have all been adapted for the big screen.