The End of Loneliness

By: Benedict Wells, Charlotte Collins - translator

Narrated by: Luke Thompson

The international best seller, translated by the award-winning translator of The Tobacconist, Charlotte Collins

Winner of the 2016 European Union Prize for Literature

Translated by the award-winning translator of The Tobacconist, Charlotte Collins.

I've known Death a long time, but now Death knows me.

When their idyllic childhood is shattered by the sudden death of their parents, siblings Marty, Liz and Jules are sent to a bleak state boarding school. Once there, the orphans' lives change tracks: Marty throws himself into academic life; Liz is drawn to dark forms of escapism; and Jules transforms from a vivacious child to a withdrawn teenager.

The only one who can bring him out of his shell is his mysterious classmate Alva, who hides a dark past of her own, but despite their obvious love for one another, the two leave school on separate paths.

Years later, just as it seems that they can make amends for time wasted, the past catches up with them, and fate - or chance - will once again alter the course of a life.

Told through the fractured lives of the siblings, The End of Loneliness is a heartfelt, enriching novel about loss and loneliness, family and love.

©2016 Diogenes Verlag AG (P)2018 Hodder Headline Limited

Critic reviews

"Dazzling." (John Irving)

"A superbly insightful story." (BookRiot)

"This novel has been rightfully described as something of a masterpiece. One thing is for sure - it is not easily forgotten. Heartfelt and enriching." (Sunday Post)

Loved it

I wasn’t sure about reading this story,I’m so glad I did. It broke my heart in the most beautiful way. It’s been days since I finished it and I am still thinking of Jules. The narration is excellent, such a pleasure to listen. It made me feel this story was told only to me.

Thought Provoking

Not my usual book, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. It made me think a lot about relationships overall and family ties specifically. A sad book with a great deal of wisdom about life threaded throughout the book. It's a book that I imagine reading at another time in my life.

Incredible!

So real in every way. Loved it and how it made me think. Read it.

So much better than the print version

This is one of those books you have to listen to so that feel you’ve really read it.

Great narration

The book flowed nicely and the narration was fantastic! I highly recommend this audio book.