Essays In Love

Alain de Botton

15 December 2014
9781447275336
224 pages

Synopsis

A unique love story and a classic work of philosophy, rooted in the mysterious workings of the human heart and mind. With an introduction by Sheila Heti.

'De Botton is a national treasure.' - Susan Hill, author of The Woman in Black

Perhaps it is true that we do not really exist until there is someone there to see us existing, we cannot properly speak until there is someone who can understand what we are saying in essence, we are not wholly alive until we are loved.

A man and a woman meet over casual conversation on a flight from Paris to London, and so begins a love story – from first kiss to first argument, elation to heartbreak, and everything in between. Each stage of the relationship is illuminated with startling clarity, as Alain de Botton explores emotions often felt but rarely understood.

With the verve of a novelist and the insight of a philosopher, de Botton uncovers the mysteries of the human heart. Essays In Love is an iconic book – one that should be read by anyone who has ever fallen in love.

The book's success has much to do with its beautifully modelled sentences, its wry humour and its unwavering deadpan respect for its reader's intelligence . . . full of keen observation and flashes of genuine lyricism, acuity and depth.
Witty, funny, sophisticated, neatly tied up, and full of wise and illuminating insights.
De Botton is a national treasure.