The Alexandria Quartet is a series of novels -Justine, Balthazar, mountolive y Clea- created by the British writer Lawrence G. Durrell. Who was also a renowned poet, playwright, writer of travel books and biographies. While this tetralogy has been his most acclaimed work due to its intention of, like The Avignon Quintet, describe the relativity of human nature.
For this reason, Durrell created an argument based on the experiences of a group of friends who shared part of their daily lives in the city of Alexandria, Egypt. (Before and after the Second World Cup). Equally, thanks to the particular approach of each delivery, four different versions are obtained, contradictory and, at the same time, complementary of the same story.
Some facts about the author
The son of British settlers, Lawrence George Durrell was born in Jalandar, India, on February 27, 1912. At an early age He was sent to study in England, a change that he never approved and it had a negative influence on their university stay. Then, the response to this situation was to dedicate himself to writing. This is how his first poetic collection arose, Quaint Fragment (1931), which had medium acceptance.
In 1938 it was published The black book, a narrative loaded with autobiographical passages that became the British author's first literary success. Then in Cefalù (1948) —his first novel— explored his most important intellectual concerns and marked the beginning of a renowned career within the genre. Durrell died in Sommières, France, on November 8, 1990.
Some of his best known works
- Prospero's cell (1945)
- Reflections on a marine Venus (1955)
- Bitter lemons (1957)
- Bronze (1968)
- neverquam (1970)
- Sicilian carousel (1977)
- The Avignon Quintet (1985)
- Vision of Provence (1989)
Analysis of The Alexandria Quartet
Lawrence G. Durrell wanted to explain in his quartet the notion of space-time exposed by Albert Einstein in his theory of relativity at the beginning of the XNUMXth century. In the words of the author himself, this saga —Which immortalized him as a writer— exposes as central axis "an investigation of modern love."
Likewise, readers and literary analysts consider this piece as a sublime representation of the events that took place in Egypt before the Second World War. In this sense, each volume of the tetralogy shows that the same characters arranged in a common context can be admired from a different perspective and interpreted differently.
Purpose and parts of tetralogy
Under the objectives mentioned in the previous paragraph, Durrell developed the series of four books that make up the entirety of the novel. The first three, -Justine, Balthazar y mountolive- represent the Euclidean dimensions of space. Therefore, the story essentially focuses on the same story, but from different points of view.
Already in the fourth text, Clea, the writer incorporated the temporal dimension. Consequently, the advancement of the story and the outcome of the tetralogy was possible. Even if Durrell failed to convey to his readers a better understanding of Einstein's theories, does seem to elucidate some questions about love modern.
The original project
Academic specialists often highlight the anecdote of how Lawrence George Durrell created the quartet. Since the preliminary design of the British intellectual's job was to represent a scientific theory… In the end, it turned out to be a wonderful novel received as a heritage from the XNUMXth century and highly valued to this day.
Intrinsic values
Durrell used a group of friends located in the pre-World War II era to expand his thoughts. In this regard, the British novelist points out the preponderance of dthe true value of friendship between people capable of showing cordiality despite their differences.
Additionally, many critics have agreed to praise this work for the vivid representation of a city described in the greatest luxury of detail. In fact, the metropolis seems like one more character. In the words of the author, “the city that used us as if we were its flora, that involved us in conflicts that were its own and we mistakenly believed ours, the beloved Alexandria”.
Summary
Justine (1957)
The first installment takes place in the impressive (but decadent) Alexandria of the 1930s. Here the author describes a love story between the enigmatic and seductive Justine and Darley, the narrator of the story.. The latter is found at the beginning of the story on a lonely Greek island accompanied by Melissa, a two-year-old girl, daughter of his former lover.
There —in a kind of retreat— he recalls his stay in Alexandria along with the rest of the members of the story. It is about Balthazar, Nessim and Mountolive, whose stories are intertwined in an overwhelming relationship of love, friendship and betrayals. In the same way, Through the observation of these characters, the idiosyncrasy and lifestyle of that African city are evident.
Balthazar (1958)
In the second book of the saga, the facts and the time presented are similar to those of Justine. The only difference is that the facts are shown from the perspective of Dr. Balthazar, who sees Justine as a calculating woman, cold and full of dark intentions. Accordingly, for him the relationship between her and Darley arises from a plan that contravenes the benevolent essence of love.
mountolive (1959)
In the third installment, another perspective shift occurs; it centers on the young English diplomat David Mountolive. This character lives a passionate relationship with a woman older than him. In addition, he is involved in a political conspiracy. Behind her are Justine and Nessim, therefore, the focus of the story falls on love and the intrigues of political power.
Clea (1960)
Lawrence George Durrell culminated his tetralogy with a magnificent close to a memorable work. Clea, brings temporality to the saga by recounting the paths and outcomes that all the characters take when the war ends. On the one hand, Justine is confined to her residence and Mountolive leaves Alexandria.
Instead, Darley returns to a city that, despite the ravages of war, has not lost its charm. For its part, Clea, the character, awaits Darley upon his arrival in town without having a preconceived idea about him or the events to come.. In the end, both are surprised by love.
Clea and the legacy of tetralogy
In most literary reviews and analyzes, Clea It is referred to as the crowning of a history whose validity is imperishable. Similarly, this book allows a clear understanding of the entire plot developed in the previous installments. For this reason, the latest installment is considered by critics as the text that ended up turning the quartet into a true masterpiece.