The Sense of an Ending by Julian Barnes

The Sense of an Ending is a novel by Julian Barnes. This edition is described as the winner of the Man Booker Prize for Fiction 2011 and is noted as now a major film.

Key details

• Author: Julian Barnes
• Winner of the Man Booker Prize for Fiction 2011
• Now a major film

Synopsis

Tony Webster and his close group of friends first meet Adrian Finn at school, sharing their sixth-form years through affectations, in-jokes, rumour and wit. Adrian is presented as more serious than the others, and certainly more intelligent, yet the group still promises to remain friends for life.

In later life, Tony is retired, looking back on a career and a single marriage that ended in a calm divorce. He believes he has never tried to hurt anyone, but he also recognises that memory is imperfect and can produce unexpected revelations, as a lawyer’s letter is about to demonstrate.