A History of the World in 10½ Chapters

A story as old as the world: him, her, and his best friend. Oliver and Stuart have been friends since childhood, but it’s hard to imagine two people less alike: Stuart is timid and clumsy, while Oliver is a brilliant show-off and a fop. Even more surprising is that the wonderful girl, Gillian, ends up with Stuart. However, Oliver realizes he’s fallen in love with her and intends to win her by any means. They face painful trials and the unraveling of their relationship, in the course of which they decide to say everything out loud and discuss it—“how it all happened.” The novel begins as a brilliant comedy of errors, but as the plot develops, it becomes deeper and more subtle. We’re in for a real study of love and friendship, written in a light and ironic manner by the acknowledged king of modern English literature—Julian Barnes. This sad and, at the same time, laugh-out-loud funny story is told by three characters at once, and only you decide who is right—and who became a victim of love.