First Love, Last Rites

by Ian McEwan
First Love, Last Rites cover
Good Books rating 4.0
Short Story Collections
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  • ID: 3134
  • Added: 2025-10-16
  • Updated: 2025-10-16
  • Published: 1975-01-01
  • Formats: 4
  • Reviews: 3

Ian McEwan's debut collection, First Love, Last Rites, is a masterful blend of horror and literary fiction that earned him the Somerset Maugham Award. These stories are not just tales of terror; they are crafted with a poetic intensity that draws readers into the unsettling realities of human behavior. Each story is a chilling exploration of the grotesque and the macabre, yet they are told with a lyricism that makes them impossible to look away from. The collection is a testament to McEwan's ability to confront the horrifying aspects of life with a compelling and thought-provoking narrative. /n/n The atmospheric and densely woven tales in this collection have solidified McEwan's reputation as one of the most influential English writers of his generation. The stories delve into the secret kinship we share with the horrifying, revealing the dark undercurrents that lie beneath the surface of everyday life. With a taut and brooding tone, McEwan's writing compels readers to question their own perceptions and the boundaries of human nature.

Reviews
Never Imitate · 2023-12-18
thought-provoking 4.25

The lightness of the prose contrasts with the deeply disturbing actions and undercurrents in the stories. The collection is praised for its skillful rendering of complex themes.

This reviewer was struck by the contrast between the lightness of McEwan's prose and the deeply disturbing themes in 'First Love, Last Rites'. The stories are skillfully rendered, with a level of detail that makes the disturbing actions feel almost mundane. They appreciate how McEwan can take the most shocking situations and present them in a way that is both compelling and thought-provoking. The collection is not for everyone, but for those who appreciate dark, intense storytelling, it's a must-read. They also note that the stories are not just shocking for the sake of it; they explore the darker aspects of human nature in a way that is both compelling and unsettling.

Quick quotes

    The lightness of the skilfully rendered prose belies the deeply disturbing actions and undercurrents.

    McEwan's writing is both vivid and unsettling, making the stories memorable.

    The collection is not for the faint of heart and easily shocked.

The Guardian · 2015-08-28
disturbing 4.00

The collection is noted for its scandalous themes and vivid imagery, reflecting the societal shock it caused upon release. It's a bold and unflinching exploration of taboo subjects.

This collection of short stories by Ian McEwan, published in 1975, was met with a mix of shock and admiration. The themes of sibling incest, cross-dressing, and disturbing imagery were not what readers were used to at the time, and it sparked a lot of controversy. The reviewer highlights how McEwan's writing style is both vivid and unsettling, making the stories memorable. They appreciate the boldness of the themes and the way McEwan delves into the darker aspects of human nature. It's a collection that doesn't shy away from uncomfortable topics, and that's part of what makes it so impactful.

Quick quotes

    McEwan's tales of sibling incest, cross-dressing and cat-roasting children in First Love, Last Rites scandalised critics.

    The collection is a bold and unflinching exploration of taboo subjects.

    McEwan's writing has a way of making the disturbing feel almost mundane, which is part of its power.

Savage Reads · 2012-02-24
unsettling 3.75

The collection is described as murky and disturbing, with subject matter that can offend even the most hardened readers. The stories are intense and thought-provoking.

This reviewer found 'First Love, Last Rites' to be a collection that is both disturbing and thought-provoking. The stories are not for the faint of heart, dealing with themes that can be quite offensive. However, the intensity of the subject matter is balanced by McEwan's skillful writing. They appreciate how McEwan can take the most disturbing situations and make them feel almost inevitable. It's a collection that stays with you long after you've finished reading, and that's a testament to McEwan's talent. They also note that the stories are not just shocking for the sake of it; they explore the darker aspects of human nature in a way that is both compelling and unsettling.

Quick quotes

    'First Love, Last Rites' is a murky collection of tales.

    The subject matter in these short stories will disturb and quite possibly offend the most hardened or jaded of readers.

    McEwan's writing is skillful enough to make the disturbing feel almost inevitable.

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