Sense of an Ending  (English, Paperback, Julian Barnes)

The Sense Of An Ending is a novel that revolves around Tony Webster, a retired man, who remembers the letter he sent to both his former girlfriend, Veronica, and his best friend, Adrian, during their youthful days.

Summary Of The Book

The narrator of The Sense Of An Ending is a retired man, Tony Webster, who remembers the time he met Adrian Finn at school, where the two pledged to remain friends for life. This book has two sections, both of which Tony narrates. The first portion is set during the 1960s, in which the readers are introduced to four intellectually arrogant friends, among which Adrian and Tony are the central characters, and play a major role throughout this story.

At the closing of school, one of the schoolboys hangs himself, the reason being that he impregnated a girl. The four friends then begin to debate on the philosophical difficulty of comprehending what exactly took place. After their schooling, Adrian moves on to attend Cambridge University, while Tony goes to Bristol University. Tony soon has a girlfriend, Veronica, and spends an embarrassing weekend that jeopardizes their relationship. It was not too long after that Adrian sends Tony a letter, telling him that he and Veronica are dating each other. Tony then addresses a letter to the two, speaking out against their relationship, wishing them a woeful life ahead.

Few months later, Tony is informed that Adrian has ended his life, who leaves a note for the coroner. His school friends attribute Adrian’s action to his depressive nature. Tony considers his letter to be brief and trivial. He marries Margaret, and they have one child together, followed by a quiet divorce. Despite their divorce, Tony and Margaret remain close friends. One day, Tony receives a letter from a lawyer, informing him of Veronica’s mother's death and that she has left behind Adrian’s diary for Tony. However, Veronica is grieved by the letter Tony sent her and Adrian in their youth, and tries everything to prevent Tony from getting his hands on the diary. Does the diary reveal the mystery behind Adrian’s suicide?

The Sense Of An Ending was greatly appreciated by readers worldwide, fetching Barnes the Man Booker Prize in October 2011.

About Julian Barnes

Julian Barnes is an author.

Apart from this book, Barnes has written Nothing To Be Frightened Of, The Pedant In The Kitchen, and A History Of The World In 10½ Chapters.

Julian Barnes was born on 19th January, 1946, in Leicester, England. He studied at the City of London School for seven years. He then completed his graduation studies in Modern Languages from Magdalen College, Oxford. After that, Barnes began working for the Oxford English Dictionary supplement as a lexicographer. Barnes has also worked as an editor and reviewer for the New Review and the New Statesman. He has written under the pseudonyms, Dan Kavanagh and Edward Pygge. He has been presented with the Prix Femina award, the Geoffrey Faber Memorial Prize, and the David Cohen Prize for Literature.