Alfred and Emily
Alfred and Emily by Doris Lessing is a poignant exploration of the author’s parents, each profoundly affected by the Great War. Published by HarperCollins on October 20, 2009, this reprint edition spans 288 pages and is presented in English. The book is divided into two parts: the first half imagines the more fulfilling lives her parents might have led without the war, while the second half offers a stark examination of their actual relationship shaped by the conflict’s aftermath.
Readers will find a deeply personal narrative that intertwines biography and autobiography, reflecting on the lasting impact of war on family dynamics. Lessing’s work delves into the complexities of her parents’ lives, revealing how their experiences shaped their identities and relationships. This edition invites readers to reflect on themes of legacy and the struggle for personal freedom in the context of historical trauma.
Official synopsis Publisher
In this profoundly moving book, Nobel Laureate Doris Lessing explores the lives of her parents, each irrevocably damaged by the Great War. In the fictional first half of Alfred and Emily, she imagines the happier lives her parents might have made for themselves had there been no war. This is followed by a piercing examination of their relationship as it actually was in the shadow of the devastating global conflict.
“Here I still am,” says Lessing, “trying to get out from under that monstrous legacy, trying to get free.” Triumphantly, with Alfred and Emily, she has done just that.
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