World in the Evening - (FSG Classics) by Christopher Isherwood (Paperback)

About the Book

"Against the backdrop of World War II, [this book] charts the emotional development of Stephen Monk, an aimless Englishman living in California. After his second marriage suddenly ends, Stephen finds himself living with a relative in a small Pennsylvania Quaker town, haunted by memories of his prewar affair with a younger man during a visit to the Canary Islands. The world traveler comes to a gradual understanding of himself and of his newly adopted homeland"--Amazon.com.

Book Synopsis

A deeply introspective book about war, religion, and sexuality

Against the backdrop of World War II, The World in the Evening charts the emotional development of Stephen Monk, an aimless Englishman living in California. After his second marriage suddenly ends, Stephen finds himself living with a relative in a small Pennsylvania Quaker town, haunted by memories of his prewar affair with a younger man during a visit to the Canary Islands. The world traveler comes to a gradual understanding of himself and of his newly adopted homeland.
When first published in 1953, The World in the Evening was notable for its clear-eyed depiction of European and American mores, sexuality, and religion. Today, readers herald Christopher Isherwood's frank portrayal of bisexuality and his early appreciation of low and high camp.

Review Quotes

All of Isherwood's books have a strong autobiographical element, so any one of them connects to the whole of his fascinating life, and no one should have to miss a moment of it. - Don Bachardy

About the Author

Christopher Isherwood (1904-1986) was born outside Manchester, England. He lived in Berlin from 1929 to 1933 and emigrated from Europe to the United States in 1939. A major figure in twentieth-century fiction and the gay rights movement, he wrote more than twenty books, including A Single Man and Goodbye to Berlin.