SUMMARY
To Paradise is a novel that embodies the essence of the fin de siècle era, with a marvelously crafted literary impact. Yet, at its core, it stands as a masterpiece of emotional insight. The extraordinary potency of this narrative springs from Yanagihara’s profound comprehension of the agonizing desire to safeguard those we cherish—be they partners, lovers, offspring, friends, kin, or even fellow citizens—and the heartache that unfolds when we are unable to do so
In an alternate version of 1893 America, New York finds itself within the Free States, where the freedom to love and live is seemingly boundless. A delicate young heir from a prestigious lineage resists an arranged engagement with a suitable match, instead drawn towards a charismatic music instructor who lacks material wealth. Fast forward to 1993 in Manhattan, a city grappling with the AIDS epidemic. Here, a young man from Hawaii resides alongside his significantly older, affluent partner. He conceals the hardships of his early life and the fate of his father. Jumping ahead to 2093, a world plagued by diseases and ruled by totalitarian authority, a brilliant scientist’s granddaughter copes with his absence while endeavoring to uncover the truth behind her husband’s disappearances.
These three narratives intertwine in a captivating and ingenious symphony. Recurring motifs and themes intermingle, deepening and enhancing each other: a townhouse in Washington Square Park within Greenwich Village, affliction and the harrowing costs of treatments, the stark contrasts between wealth and destitution, vulnerability and strength, the influence of race, the concept of family and nationhood, the perilous convictions of both the powerful and the revolutionaries, the yearning to find solace in an idyllic world, and the gradual understanding that such a utopia might be unattainable. What binds together not only the characters but also these varying incarnations of America is their exploration of the fundamental aspects of humanity: Fear. Love. Shame. Need. Loneliness.
About The Author
Hanya Yanagihara (born 1974)[1] is an American novelist, editor, and travel writer. She grew up in Hawaii.[2] She is best known for her bestselling novel A Little Life, which was shortlisted for the 2015 Booker Prize, and for being the editor-in-chief of T Magazine.[3][4
