Sunday Times Novel of the Year Longlisted for the Man Booker Prize A magnificent, century-spanning saga about a love triangle that spawns a myth, and a family mystery, across generations. In the late summer of 1913, George Sawle brings his Cambridge friend Cecil Valance, a charismatic young poet, to visit his family home. The weekend will be one of excitements and confusions for everyone, but it is on George's sixteen-year-old sister Daphne that it will have the most lasting impact. As the decades pass, Daphne and those around her endure startling changes in fortune and circumstance, and as reputations rise and fall, the events of that long-ago summer become part of a legendary story. The Stranger's Child is Hollinghurst's masterly exploration of English culture, taste and attitudes. Epic in sweep, it intimately portrays a luminous but changing world and the ways memory - and myth - can be built and broken. It is a powerful and utterly absorbing modern classic. Part of the Picador Collection, a series showcasing the best of modern literature.
Alan Hollinghurst
Alan Hollinghurst is a British novelist known for his exploration of themes related to sexuality, desire, and social class in contemporary society. His most notable works include "The Line of Beauty," which won the Man Booker Prize in 2004, and "The Swimming-Pool Library," which was shortlisted for the Booker Prize in 1988.
Hollinghurst's literary style is characterized by his exquisite prose, keen observations, and nuanced exploration of human relationships. He is often praised for his ability to capture the complexities of desire and the intricacies of social interactions.
Hollinghurst's contributions to literature include challenging societal norms and taboos surrounding sexuality and exploring the intersections of desire, power, and identity. His work has had a significant impact on the literary genre of LGBTQ+ literature, pushing boundaries and expanding the representation of queer experiences in literature.
Overall, Alan Hollinghurst is a highly acclaimed novelist whose work continues to resonate with readers for its rich storytelling, elegant prose, and profound insights into the human condition.