THE NUMBER ONE INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER ‘A genuine masterpiece, the first great American novel of the twenty-first century’ Elle ‘Funny, moving, generous, brutal and intelligent’ Guardian

THE NUMBER ONE INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER‘A genuine masterpiece, the first great American novel of the twenty-first century’ Elle‘Funny, moving, generous, brutal and intelligent’ Guardian

A brilliantly perceptive and moving novel that announced Jonathan Franzen as one of our greatest living writers.

The Lamberts – Enid, Alfred and their three grown-up children – are a troubled family living in a troubled age. After fifty years as a wife and mother, Enid is ready to have some fun, but her husband Alfred is losing his mind to Parkinson’s. As his condition worsens, and the Lamberts are forced to face the long-buried secrets and failures that haunt them, Enid sets her heart on gathering everyone together for one last family Christmas.

‘Compellingly readable, funny and above all generous spirited’ Daily Mail

‘A novel of outstanding sympathy, wit, moral intelligence and pathos, a family saga told with stylistic brio and psychological and political insight’ Financial Times

‘A big-hearted, panoramic American epic, intelligent and wise but also wildly, stonkingly funny’ Independent

Details

ISBN13: 9780007232444
Format: Paperback / softback
Number of Pages: 672
Edition:
Publication Date: 17 Sep 2007
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Publication City, Country: London, United Kingdom
Dimensions (cm): 19.8(H)x12.9(L)x4.4(W)450
Weight (gm): 450

Author Biography

Jonathan Franzen's work includes four novels (The Twenty-Seventh City, Strong Motion, The Corrections, Freedom), two collections of essays (Farther Away, How To Be Alone), a memoir (The Discomfort Zone), and, most recently, The Kraus Project. He is recognised as one of the best American writers of our age and has won many awards. He lives in New York City and Santa Cruz, California.

Reviews

'A book which is funny, moving, generous, brutal and intelligent, and which poses the ultimate question: what life is for? And that is as much as anyone could ask.' Blake Morrison, Guardian 'For anyone who has ever found themselves guiltily yearning for an Anne Tyler while in the middle of an Updike or Wolfe. The Lamberts are utterly believable, and once they have all told their stories you can't help but sympathise with them. Be prepared to be moved.' Laurence Phelan, Independent on Sunday 'Compelling. A pleasure from beginning to end. Franzen, in one leap, has put himself into the league of Updike and Roth.' David Sexton, Evening Standard 'A novel of outstanding sympathy, wit, moral intelligence and pathos, a family saga told with stylistic brio and psychological and political insight. No British novelist is currently writing at this pitch.' Jeremy Treglowen, Financial Times 'Impossible to dislike, an unpretentious page-turner.' Zadie Smith, Guardian Book of the Year '"The Corrections" is a wonderful book. Every page simmers with wit, close observation and intelligence. Franzen has delivered as wounding and thoughtful an indictment of contemporary existence as it is possible to make.' John Burnside, Scotsman 'As good as anything I've ever read.' Rachel Cusk, Daily Telegraph Books of the Year