The Alexandria Quartet

by Lawrence Durrell

This tetralogy of novels takes place in the period before and after World War II in Alexandria, Egypt. Each of the books, Justine, Balthazar, Mountolive, and Clea, is a distinct piece of fiction, yet they really deserve to be reviewed as they must be read: as a whole. Durrell intended to write the books as a convergence of Eastern and Western metaphysics and a meditation on Einstein’s theory of relativity and Freud’s dislocation of the self. Thus, the narrative often defies chronology and the characters cannot be trusted with stable personalities. In fact, nothing can really be trusted in these books--- the further into the series I delved, the more I realized I was wrong in nearly every assumption I had made. The first three books occur at the same time, but through different lenses. The fourth finally advances in time. Through the exploration of time and space, Durrell manages to create a startling portrait of modern love and, in the meantime, delves into subjects as far-ranging as Gnosticism and Zionist politics. The characters are likely the most fully realized I have ever read in a work of fiction, an accomplishment only possible because of Durrell’s exquisite mastering of English prose. A necessary read for ALL and definitely my favorite books.