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A True Story of Love and Alcohol

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By: Louisa Young
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‘Extraordinarily powerful’ Emma Thompson

There are a million love stories, and a million stories of addiction. This one is transcendent.

Louisa Young met Robert Lockhart when they were both 17. Their stop-start romance lasted decades, in which time he became a celebrated composer and she, an acclaimed novelist.

This is both a compelling portrait of a lifelong love affair, and an incredibly affecting guide to how the partner of a 'charismatic, infuriating, adorable, self-sabotaging’ alcoholic can find the strength to survive when the disease rips both their lives apart.

‘Rich and moving and beautifully written’ The Times

‘Spectacular. I can’t stop thinking about it’ Cathy Rentzenbrink

‘Extraordinarily candid’ Evening Standard

‘Beautiful, and heartbreaking, and true’ Sam Baker, The Pool

‘Moving, harrowing and tirelessly empathetic’ Daily Express

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Critic reviews

‘Rich and moving and beautifully written’ The Times

‘An extraordinarily powerful and moving work – for all… An achingly beautiful book which I devoured in two sittings. Amazing’ Emma Thompson

‘Spectacular. I can’t stop thinking about it. Louisa Young is a beautiful, beautiful writer and there is great courage and love in the way she addresses her subject. It’s the portrait of a man and his times and his illness told with love but also with an unflinching honesty that feels like a great gift to the reader’ Cathy Rentzenbrink, author of The Last Act of Love

‘Beautiful but, yes, sobering story … it is, at heart, an old-fashioned love’ Daily Mail

‘Extraordinarily candid… As much as it’s an overwhelming love letter, Young’s book is also a sobering reminder of the devastating effects of alcoholism, not just on an individual’s life, but on everyone else around them’ Evening Standard

‘The most riveting, heartbreaking book I've ever read about addiction, but above all about the nature of love. Already one of my books of the year’ Linda Grant

‘Brave, honest and beautiful’ Nicholas Lezard, Evening Standard

‘Louisa Young's memoir of her long, bruising love for musical genius Robert Lockhart is as honest as the morning after and the best account of loving against all sense since Penelope Mortimer’s The Pumpkin EaterPatrick Gale

‘I’m still fucking crying. And it’s such a great work of art. I wish I'd read it before I worked as a drug and alcohol counsellor’ Philippa Perry

‘Oh my God, it’s so beautiful, and heartbreaking, and true’ Sam Baker, The Pool

'Had me weeping into my pillow… Anyone who has ever loved an addict will recognise most of what she has to say’ iNews

‘An important book, one that demands we rethink a culture of blame around alcoholism … moving, harrowing and tirelessly empathetic’ Daily Express

All stars
Most relevant
This extraordinary book should be read by anyone living with or alongside alcohol addiction. It is so searingly frank, brave and patently honest, that the pain and effort to write it must have been tremendous. I can only hope the Author has found it, now published and well received, a cathartic and healing experience. As with her other writing, she expresses herself in a scholarly and detailed manner, but with great emotional input. I cannot express strongly enough how listening to Louisa Young read her book makes her love and devotion to Robert Lockhart a truly inspiring read. One is left bereft by the overall sense of 'what might have been'.


A masterpiece.

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Honest , blunt, sad, funny at times, down to earth, and the wasted, brilliant talent that was Robert Lockhart.

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such a moving listen. I've revisited it recently and understand the author's love for Robert much more having relisteneed. such a massively fascinating and deep account of addiction.

second listen

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I loved this book and found it took a bit of time to get in to at the beginning, but then I was hooked. It’s so well written and the author narrates it so well and as it’s her own personal story I really felt every emotion and could hear the emotion and I liked that I felt like she was telling me the story just for me - as if I was in a room with her talking. It was also a real informative read and an eye opener to the extent of health issues faced as a result of alcoholism. I really felt empathy for both the author and also her partner, as he faced his demons. This book will stay with me for a long time.

Beautifully written and moving

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Written beautifully, felt as though I knew them both. Related to many parts. Really enjoyed it

Thoroughly enjoyed the story

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