A four-part story of passion and betrayal in the Mediterranean—voted one of the Modern Library’s 100 Best Novels of the twentieth century. The Alexandria Quartet is a striking and sensuous masterpiece, breathing vivid life into each of its unforgettable characters and the dusty Mediterranean city in which they live. Set in Alexandria, Egypt, in the years before, during, and after World War II, … World War II, the books follow the lives of a circle of friends and lovers, including sensitive Darley, passionate Justine, philosophical Balthazar, and elegant Clea. Written in Durrell’s trademark evocative prose, these four novels explore the central theme of modern love, building into a remarkable whole that the New York Times hailed as “one of the most important works of our time.” This ebook features a new introduction by Jan Morris.
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A classic work–looking at the same story from the very different understandings of the major characters. Memorable and fascinating and very evocative settings.
I’ve read the Quartet twice and find Durrell’s writing luminous in its descriptions of place. His main characters (Justine, Nessim, Clea and Balthazar) are presented from several different points of view, which makes the reader revise one’s feelings about each person as the story moves from one part to another. Always in the background is the …
A modernist classic that takes readers across the Mediterranean in a sweep of history, culture, ideas, intrigue and romance. Every sentence is a jewel, though sometimes these jewels are covered in desert sands. Dust them off, however, and you will find something precious and rare.
It is easy to see that Lawrence Durrell started life as a poet, for his prose is magnificent. But his strongest suit is his brilliant evocation of time and place, in recreating the alien landscape of Egyptian Alexandria in the late 1930s and 1940s, during World War Two. And his characters are marvelous: Nessim and Justine, Darley and Melissa, …
I met Durrell in … late eighties, while he was touring. I ran my theory by him, and he would not comment. But … I believe the author set out to do what the character Justine mentions while looking at several reflections of herself in different mirrors: something like, people have so many sides. If I were an author, I would try to show the …
This quartet comprises some of the best writing of the last century. If you haven’t read it, you should. It’s a classic.
Difficult to read at first, with a lot of unusual words and foreign language quotes that the translation and dictionary resources couldn’t figure out. I think many of them were words the author made up as puns or flights of fancy. Others were probably British slang from World War II era. Interesting style of writing that I have never experienced …
The finest novel I’ve ever read. Beautiful prose.
Outstanding !
Something like this could only have been written by a man!! Their world view of love, lust, good and evil, is so different from the way the average woman sees her existence.
Highly original, a love-themed quartet to make you think about physics and metaphysics
Although Lawrence Durrell’s novels are no longer widely read and studied, they remain a library unto themselves of outstanding literary craftsmanship. The Alexandra Quartet is the best known of Durrell’s works, but they certainly are not alone. Durrell belongs in the ranks of writers like Proust, Powell, and James. Have a good dictionary …
I read these books at age 20. I have just reread them at age 70 something. I had forgotten the beauty & depth of Durell’s language. Every sentence is a gem. I was born in Alexandria around the time of these stories. Even though I moved to Cairo at age 6, the scenes and atmosphere of the Alexandria of my childhood bring back memories from long …
Gorgeous writing.
One of the greatest set of books ever. Expands your view of people.
I found the books difficult to understand. Perhaps I was too young when I read them and should read them again.
I read the quartet while in college, and didn’t quite ‘get it’, so I (tried) to reread it recently. Two thumbs down to the neurotic and agonized characters and plot .
I read this quartet many years ago while I was temporarily living in Egypt. Thought the book’s setting, characters and plot were fascinating and engaging. Nice period piece.
It’s been more than 40 years since I read these four books, and there remain bits and pieces as real and memorable to me as my own life. The first three books tell the same story from three different people’s points of view; the last carries the story into the future. The series is demanding but worth the effort. Many opportunities to highlight …
uNFORTUNATELY IT IS DATED.