There But For The
There But For The by Ali Smith is a First Edition novel published by Pantheon Books in 2011, featuring 236 pages in English. The story begins at a dinner party in the affluent London suburb of Greenwich, where Miles Garth unexpectedly leaves the table and locks himself in an upstairs room, prompting an eclectic group of neighbors and friends to gather outside. Through the perspectives of four characters—Anna, Mark, May, and Brooke—readers explore the complexities of human connection and the nature of knowing a stranger.
This novel delves into themes of family life and urban existence, examining the fleeting moments that shape our interactions. As the characters reflect on their limited knowledge of Miles, the narrative unfolds with Smith’s characteristic wit and playful language. The book presents a thought-provoking exploration of separation and connection, inviting readers to consider the deeper implications of their everyday encounters.
Official synopsis Publisher
From the award-winning author ofHotel WorldandThe Accidental, a dazzling, funny, and wonderfully exhilarating new novel.
At a dinner party in the posh London suburb of Greenwich, Miles Garth suddenly leaves the table midway through the meal, locks himself in an upstairs room, and refuses to leave. An eclectic group of neighbors and friends slowly gathers around the house, and Miles’s story is told from the points of view of four of them: Anna, a woman in her forties; Mark, a man in his sixties; May, a woman in her eighties; and a ten-year-old named Brooke. The thing is, none of these people knows Miles more than slightly. How much is it possible for us to know about a stranger? And what are the consequences of even the most casual, fleeting moments we share every day with one another?
Brilliantly audacious, disarmingly playful, and full of Smith’s trademark wit and puns,There but for theis a deft exploration of the human need for separation—from our pasts and from one another—and the redemptive possibilities for connections. It is a tour de force by one of our finest writers.
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