Instead of a Letter

The memoir explores Diana Athill's idyllic childhood in Norfolk and her passionate yet tumultuous first love at fifteen. After an engagement filled with promise, tragedy strikes, leading to profound loss and a struggle to reclaim her identity. Despite the sorrow, the narrative conveys a sense of hope and resilience. Athill's writing is marked by her candid intelligence and a refreshing absence of self-pity, making this a poignant reflection on the complexities of love and the journey of healing.