The Stranger's Child

What happens to a story when its author is gone? Explore the ripple effects of a single poem through a century of English society, witnessing how memory, reputation, and secrets are shaped, twisted, and reinvented by those left behind. This is a story about the stories we tell. You’ll follow the shifting legacy of a young, charismatic poet killed in World War I and the famous poem he left behind. Discover how his life is mythologized by lovers, family, and biographers over generations. Uncover the hidden truths and quiet lies that complicate a celebrated literary history, revealing how personal desires can rewrite the past.

Alan Hollinghurst is one of Britain's most acclaimed contemporary novelists, winning the prestigious Man Booker Prize for his masterful 2004 novel, The Line of Beauty. A former lecturer at Oxford and University College London, his work is celebrated for its elegant prose and insightful explorations of English social history, class, and gay life across the twentieth century. His deep engagement with literary tradition and the subtle shifts in language over time provides the rich, authentic foundation for The Stranger's Child.