Autumn

Nominated for the Man Booker Prize in 2017, Ali Smith's novel invites readers into a reflective journey through Autumn. This season, immortalized by Keats in 1819 as a time of mist and ripened fruit, becomes a canvas for contrasting the events of Autumn 2016. In a United Kingdom fractured by a pivotal summer, Daniel, at a hundred years old, reflects on the passage of time, while Elisabeth, born in 1984, contemplates the possibilities that lie ahead.The narrative weaves themes of love's triumphs and failures, intertwining hope with despair. Ali Smith explores the contemporary world's tendency towards division and exclusivity, questioning the essence of value and the significance of reaping what one sows. The novel, the first in a projected seasonal quartet, juxtaposes elements of Shakespeare's lively wit with the somberness of Keats, against the vibrant backdrop of 1960s Pop art. Through this rich tapestry, it examines the layers of our present as shaped by history.Ali Smith crafts a dynamic tale that transcends eras and wanders fluidly through the annals of time. This exploration of ageing, temporal cycles, love, and the art of storytelling itself heralds the advent of Autumn in a narrative that is both timely and timeless.