The four books of the tetralogy originally appeared separately justine in 1957, balthazar and mountolive in 1958, clea in 1960. Justine, balthazar, mountolive, clea by lawrence durrell paperback best sold book inclassics. The alexandria quartet, series of four novels by lawrence durrell. The lush and sensuous tetralogy, which consists of justine 1957, balthazar. Justine, balthazar, mountolive and clea and they have been combined into this work.
With its politics, passions, corruption and vice, this quartet of novels is set in wartime alexandria. The alexandria quartet, lawrence durrells celebrated tetralogy from the 1950s, was defined by its author as an investigation of modern love, but has often been regarded by its readers more as an evocation of a city the grecoarab, multiethnic alexandria of its title. A journalist explains to durrells narrator what he thinks pursewarden, the quartets great writer in residence, was trying to tell him. The experimental form presents the narrative from different.
The alexandria quartet alexandria quartet by lawrence durrell. Lawrence durrells series of four novels set in alexandria, egypt during the 1940s. Set of four paperback novels justine, balthazar, mountolive, clea by lawrence durrell jan 1, 1977 3. Books similar to the alexandria quartet the alexandria. The first edition of the novel was published in 1960, and was written by lawrence durrell. Ive read all of his books but the alexandria quartet is unquestionably his most brilliant work in the period just before the second world war in alexandria. Pdf the alexandria quartet book by lawrence durrell free. The lush and sensuous series consists of justine1957 balthazar1958. Buy the alexandria quartet by lawrence durrell online at alibris. The alexandria quartet by lawrence durrell goodreads. The alexandria quartet by lawrence durrell, first edition abebooks. The alexandria quartet is a ghost story in many ways, come to think of it. The book is in the tradition, too, of norman douglass south wind, a book about how not alexandria, but capri, makes its characters lose their moral bearings, and how losing their morality is actually the best thing that could happen to the characters.
A critical and commercial success, the first three books present three perspectives on a single set of events and characters in alexandria, egypt, before and during the second world war. A critical and commercial success, the first three books present three perspectives on a single set of events and characters in alexandria egypt, before and during world war ii. Free download or read online the alexandria quartet pdf epub book. The alexandria quartet by lawrence durrell alibris. Online shopping from a great selection at books store. Three of the books are written in the first person, mountolive in the third. Between the quartet and the avignon quintet he wrote the twodecker tunc and nunquam.
L awrence durrell claimed that the four books of the alexandria quartet were an investigation of modern love. The library of alexandria the crime that set human civilization back 1,000 years duration. The main characters of this fiction, classics story are. It was an early passion of mine and one i revisit for the blowsy comfort it provides and for the disconcerting peelingoff. I am embarrassed to enjoy lawrence durrells alexandria quartet so. Durrells wartime sojourn in egypt led to his masterpiece, the alexandria quartet, which he completed in southern france where he settled permanently in 1957.
The alexandria quartet is a tetralogy of novels by british writer lawrence durrell, published between 1957 and 1960. I am embarrassed to enjoy lawrence durrells alexandria quartet so much. The alexandria quartet project gutenberg selfpublishing. The alexandria quartet is the story of the life and loves of a young british man, darley, who lives in egypt during world war ii.