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

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    £9.65

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    Order before 4pm tomorrow for delivery by Fri 19 Jun 2026.

    A Paperback / softback by Julian Barnes

    Out of stock


      View other formats and editions of The Only Story by Julian Barnes

      Publisher: Vintage Publishing
      Publication Date: 07/02/2019
      ISBN13: 9781529110661, 978-1529110661
      ISBN10: 1529110661

      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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