"The Stranger's Child" is a novel by British author Alan Hollinghurst, first published in 2011. The book follows the lives of several characters over the course of a century, exploring themes of memory, love, and the passage of time.
The novel is structured around the story of a young poet, Cecil Valance, who visits his Cambridge university friend George Sawle's family in the summer of 1913. During his visit, Cecil writes a poem, "Two Acres," which becomes famous after his death in World War I. Over the years, various characters associated with Cecil and the Sawle family attempt to uncover the truth about his life and relationships, leading to a series of unexpected revelations.
Hollinghurst's novel is notable for its exploration of the changing social attitudes and values of British society over the course of the 20th century. The book also touches on issues of sexuality and class, as well as the role of the artist in society.
"The Stranger's Child" is a complex and thought-provoking novel that has been praised for its richly drawn characters, lyrical prose, and evocative depiction of the English countryside. It has won several literary awards and has been hailed as one of Hollinghurst's most accomplished works.
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