Balthazar - Alexandria Quartet, Bk 2 Author:Lawrence Durrell The Alexandria Quartet is a tetralogy of novels by British writer Lawrence Durrell, published between 1957 and 1960. A critical and commercial success, the first three books present three perspectives on a single set of events and characters in Alexandria (Egypt), before and during World War II. The fourth book is set six years lat... more »er.
As Durrell explains in his preface to Balthazar, the four novels are an exploration of relativity and the notions of continuum and subject -- object relation, with modern love as the theme. The Quartet's first three books offer the same sequence of events through several points of view, allowing individual perspectives of a single set of events. The fourth book shows change over time.
The story is complex, and sometimes difficult to read, but has acclaimed international fame, due to its unique style and structure, in addition to its fascinating and some exotic characters.