Description

Book Synopsis

**THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER**

Would you rather love the more, and suffer the more; or love the less, and suffer the less? That is, I think, finally, the only real question.

First love has lifelong consequences, but Paul doesn’t know anything about that at nineteen. At nineteen, he’s proud of the fact his relationship flies in the face of social convention.

As he grows older, the demands placed on Paul by love become far greater than he could possibly have foreseen.

Tender and wise, The Only Story is a deeply moving novel by one of Britain's greatest mappers of the human heart.



Trade Review
A novelist at the height of his powers ... Quietly devastating. -- Robert Douglas-Fairhurst * The Times *
Exquisite. -- Kate Clanchy * Guardian *
Emotionally acute, profoundly beautiful, as droll as it is deep... this has to be one of the smartest novels that 2018 has to offer. -- Hephzibah Anderson * Mail on Sunday *
A gentle, bleak, and brilliant novel. -- Jon Day * Financial Times *
Immensely powerful. -- Alex Clark * New Statesman *

The Only Story

    Product form

    A Paperback / softback by Julian Barnes

    £9.61

    Includes FREE delivery

    Order before 4pm today for delivery by Tue 22 Sep 2026.

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      Book details

      Publisher Penguin Random House Group
      Imprint Vintage
      Published 7 February 2019
      ISBN-13 9781529110661
      978-1529110661
      ISBN-10 1529110661
      Also in:
      Books by Julian Barnes

      Description

      Book Synopsis

      **THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER**

      Would you rather love the more, and suffer the more; or love the less, and suffer the less? That is, I think, finally, the only real question.

      First love has lifelong consequences, but Paul doesn’t know anything about that at nineteen. At nineteen, he’s proud of the fact his relationship flies in the face of social convention.

      As he grows older, the demands placed on Paul by love become far greater than he could possibly have foreseen.

      Tender and wise, The Only Story is a deeply moving novel by one of Britain's greatest mappers of the human heart.



      Trade Review
      A novelist at the height of his powers ... Quietly devastating. -- Robert Douglas-Fairhurst * The Times *
      Exquisite. -- Kate Clanchy * Guardian *
      Emotionally acute, profoundly beautiful, as droll as it is deep... this has to be one of the smartest novels that 2018 has to offer. -- Hephzibah Anderson * Mail on Sunday *
      A gentle, bleak, and brilliant novel. -- Jon Day * Financial Times *
      Immensely powerful. -- Alex Clark * New Statesman *

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