Lessons

by Ian McEwan
Lessons cover
Good Books rating 3.67
Literary Fiction
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  • ID: 3146
  • Added: 2025-10-16
  • Updated: 2025-10-16
  • ISBN: 9780593663998
  • Publisher: National Geographic Books
  • Published: 2022-09-27
  • Formats: 1
  • Reviews: 3

'Lessons' by Ian McEwan follows the life of Roland Baines, from his childhood during the post-World War II era to the present day. The novel delves into Roland's formative experiences, including his complex relationship with his piano teacher, Miss Miriam Cornell, and his struggles with love, loss, and personal identity. As he navigates through historical upheavals such as the Suez Crisis, the Cuban Missile Crisis, the fall of the Berlin Wall, and the COVID-19 pandemic, Roland's journey becomes a profound meditation on the interplay between personal choices and global events. The narrative explores Roland's relentless search for answers about his past and the traumas that have shaped his life. Through music, literature, and relationships, he seeks solace and redemption, ultimately questioning the extent to which we can control our lives and the lessons we can learn from history. 'Lessons' is a deeply humane and mesmerizing chronicle that resonates with the complexities of modern life.

Reviews
Judith McKinnon's blog · Judith McKinnon · 2024-03-08
mixed 3.50

The reviewer admires the novel's monumental nature but finds it a bit of a slog at times. They appreciate McEwan's writing but feel the book could have been more concise.

Judith McKinnon admires 'Lessons' as a monumental work but finds it somewhat tedious at times. She appreciates McEwan's writing and the depth of the novel but feels that it could have been more concise. McKinnon acknowledges the historical significance and the intricate details but suggests that the pacing could have been improved to make the read less arduous. Despite this, she admires the novel's ambition and the insights it offers.

Quick quotes

    While not especially long, it's a monumental work, and I admire Lessons hugely, but somehow it felt at times rather a slog.

    McEwan's prose is as sharp and incisive as ever, but the sheer volume of detail can be overwhelming.

    Lessons is a novel that demands your attention and rewards patience, but it's not always an easy read.

Cristina Sanders' blog · Cristina Sanders · 2023-01-22
positive 4.00

The reviewer finds the book to be a deep immersion into an Englishman's life from childhood to old age, praising its depth and scope. They highlight the narrator's journey as a significant aspect of the novel.

Cristina Sanders describes 'Lessons' as a huge book that offers a deep immersion into the life of Roland Baines, from his childhood to old age. She appreciates the novel's scope and the detailed portrayal of the narrator's journey. Sanders finds the historical backdrop and personal narrative intertwined in a way that makes the read both engaging and thought-provoking. The reviewer admires McEwan's ability to weave a compelling story over such a vast timeline.

Quick quotes

    There's no doubt this is a huge book, a deep immersion into an Englishman's life from childhood to old age.

    Our narrator, Roland, is a decade-and-a-half younger than McEwan, and his life story is intertwined with the major historical events of the past 70 years.

    Lessons is a novel that stays with you long after you've turned the last page.

The Guardian · 2022-09-07
mixed 3.50

The novel is criticized for its old-fashioned approach but praised for its humane portrayal of individual indecision against historical backdrop. The reviewer appreciates McEwan's generous and insightful perspective on the postwar generation.

The reviewer notes that 'Lessons' is an old-fashioned but generous and humane portrait of individual indecision against the backdrop of history. They critique the novel for its traditional style but commend McEwan's ability to capture the essence of the postwar generation. The reviewer appreciates the depth and insight provided, making it a thoughtful read despite its conventional approach.

Quick quotes

    McEwan takes aim at the postwar generation in this old-fashioned but generous and humane portrait of individual indecision against the backdrop of history.

    There is a generosity to McEwan’s approach, a refusal to judge Roland too harshly for his indecision and lack of ambition.

    Lessons is a novel that demands patience but rewards it with moments of profound insight.

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