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The Light of the World

A Memoir

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The Light of the World

By: Elizabeth Alexander
Narrated by: Elizabeth Alexander
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About this listen

A deeply resonant memoir for anyone who has loved and lost, from acclaimed poet and Pulitzer Prize finalist Elizabeth Alexander.

In The Light of the World, Elizabeth Alexander finds herself at an existential crossroads after the sudden death of her husband. Channeling her poetic sensibilities into a rich, lucid price, Alexander tells a love story that is, itself, a story of loss. As she reflects on the beauty of her married life, the trauma resulting from her husband's death, and the solace found in caring for her two teenage sons, Alexander universalizes a very personal quest for meaning and acceptance in the wake of loss.
The Light of the World is at once an endlessly compelling memoir and a deeply felt meditation on the blessings of love, family, art, and community. It is also a lyrical celebration of a life well-lived and a paean to the priceless gift of human companionship. For those who have loved and lost, or for anyone who cares what matters most, The Light of the World is required reading.
Art & Literature Authors Educators Grief & Loss Personal Development Professionals & Academics Relationships Women Memoir
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This is an incredibly beautiful offering of love and grief. It’s intimate and affirming. Thank you Elizabeth.

Beautiful & intimate

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A sad story but beautifully written and somehow uplifting. I'm so glad I found this book.

beautiful

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This is a powerful, profound and exquisite homage to love. It moved me so that, at times, my body shook with tears as I listened. I can’t really describe how deeply this book affected me in its truth and beauty. It was not an easy listen for me as my own loss is still young, yet I feel so enriched for having listened to it.
The book’s content demanded that it be narrated by its author and her narration is poetic, jazz-like, soulful, mellifluous, and compelling. It is possibly the best narration I have heard, and this book is the most raw and yet refined portrayal of grief I have come across. And I cannot imagine that the deep love, the direct soul connection, between the author and her husband, could have either begun or ended in this one lifetime.

Compelling

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In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.