The Alexandria Quartet

The Alexandria Quartet is a masterpiece tetralogy of novels written by British author Lawrence Durrell and published between 1957 and 1960. Set in Alexandria, Egypt, before and during World War II, the series is famously described by Durrell as an "investigation of modern love". It is highly celebrated for its lush, sensuous prose, complex characters, and innovative structural experimentation with perspective, time, and relative truth. The Four Novels The quartet is structured non-linearly, with the first three books acting as "siblings" that overlap in time to showcase different perspectives of the exact same events. The fourth book acts as a chronological sequel: • Justine (1957): Introduction to the cosmopolitan city and the initial account of a passionate, ill-fated love affair between the narrator, L.G. Darley, and a mysterious married woman named Justine. • Balthazar (1958): The intellectual doctor Balthazar heavily deconstructs and corrects Darley's romantic assumptions from the first book, revealing hidden political and emotional angles. • Mountolive (1958): An objective, third-person account centered on a British diplomat, providing a clearer look at the overarching political intrigue and religious tensions. • Clea (1960): Set six years later, this final volume moves forward in time, following Darley's return to Alexandria, his artistic healing, and a new relationship with a painter named Clea. Please note the image is not of the actual book. Poor: The book shows significant signs of wear. Very Easy to read small print. The binding is good.