‘Being in love was like China: you knew it was there, and no one needed to tell you it existed. But you could not lay your finger on it.’

A poignant coming-of-age tale set in pre-war London, The Death of the Heart is often classed as one of the best modern novels of all time.

First published in 1938, The Death of the Heart follows the story of sixteen-year-old orphan, Portia Quayne, who moves to London to live with her cold and emotionally repressed half-brother, Thomas, and his wife. Somewhat naïve and pining for love, Portia soon becomes infatuated with the charming yet shallow Eddie, a friend of her sister-in-law’s. Devastatingly, Portia’s illusions about love and family begin to disintegrate when her trust is shattered by Eddie’s manipulation and her brother’s indifference. Portia’s inner world – one which used to be characterised by vulnerability, longing and optimism – becomes jaded by her environment’s emotional hypocrisy. Elegant, layered and brimming with emotional insight, Bowen’s novel is a masterful study of the loss of innocence. This audiobook edition is skilfully narrated by Lucy Scott.

Elizabeth Bowen (1899 – 1973) was an English-Irish novelist, essayist and short story writer. Much of her work bridges the modernist and postmodernist eras, and centres on life during the war in London. Today she remains a major figure in twentieth century literature.