In 'Bad News,' Edward St Aubyn delves into the turbulent life of Patrick Melrose, a privileged yet deeply troubled protagonist grappling with the aftermath of his father's death and the legacy of family dysfunction. The narrative oscillates between dark humor and raw emotional insight, as Patrick navigates addiction, trauma, and the haunting specters of his past. With sharp wit and poignant prose, St Aubyn explores the complexities of wealth, privilege, and the quest for redemption. Readers are thrust into a world where the façade of high society masks deep-rooted pain and existential dread. This gripping tale leaves you questioning: can one truly escape the chains of their upbringing?
By Edward St Aubyn
Published: 2012
""The tragedy of life is not that it ends so soon, but that we wait so long to begin it.""
Twenty-two years old and in the grip of a massive addiction, Patrick Melrose is forced to fly to New York to collect his father's ashes. Over the course of a weekend, Patrick's remorseless search for drugs on the avenues of Manhattan, haunted by old acquaintances and insistent inner voices, sends him into a nightmarish spiral. Alone in his room at the Pierre Hotel, he pushes body and mind to the very edge -- desperate always to stay one step ahead of his rapidly encroaching past. This title was originally published, along with Never Mind and Some Hope, as part of a 3-book package, also called Some Hope.
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“"The tragedy of life is not that it ends so soon, but that we wait so long to begin it."”
Bad News
By Edward St Aubyn
Discover a world of knowledge through our extensive collection of book summaries.
Edward St Aubyn is a British author renowned for his sharp wit and incisive exploration of privilege and suffering. He is best known for his acclaimed series of novels, the 'Patrick Melrose' books, which offer a semi-autobiographical look at the complexities of family dynamics and the impact of addiction and trauma. St Aubyn's writing is marked by its lyrical prose, dark humor, and profound psychological insight, earning him comparisons to literary greats such as Evelyn Waugh and Kingsley Amis. His works have been adapted for television, bringing his compelling narratives to a broader audience and showcasing his exceptional talent for storytelling.
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