The Year of the End cover art

The Year of the End

A Memoir of Marriage, Truth and Fiction

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The Year of the End

By: Anne Theroux
Narrated by: Anne Theroux
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About this listen

‘This memoir is based on the diary I kept during 1990, the year that my first marriage came to an end.’

After 22 years, spent across four continents, with two children - Louis and Marcel - in 1990, Anne and Paul Theroux decided to separate.

For that year, Anne - later a professional relationship therapist herself - kept a diary, noting not only her day-to day experiences as a busy freelance journalist and broadcaster but the contrasts in her feelings between despairing grief and hope for a new future.

With reflections on truth and fiction, literature and art and the nature of marriage, alongside commentary on notable political and cultural events, and interviews with prominent writers of the time, including Kingsley Amis and Barbara Cartland, The Year of the End offers a unique insight into the unravelling of a relationship and the attempts to rebuild a life.

©2021 Anne Theroux (P)2021 W F Howes Art & Literature Authors Women Memoir Marriage

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All stars
Most relevant  
This felt very true, honest and insightful. I’m glad the author narrated it herself, sometimes her tone of voice expressed even more than the words

Insightful

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I like Anne’s style where she leaves the facts hanging for your to make up your own mind. I’m a big fan of Louis Theroux and it’s always interesting to see what the parents are like of someone with empathy. I think it’s obvious who he gets it from.

An interesting viewpoint

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Thankful I never had to live with this woman. She annihilated her husband for having affairs meanwhile she was having her own.

Anne

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I’ve read most of Paul Theroux’s books and often wondered about his wife as his high libido and numerous affairs are documented in his books. I enjoyed the book and am surprised so many reviews are critical although I see the scores are high.
Her delivery is a bit monotone and stilted in places but it sounds a true record of 2 people who loved each other but weren’t suited to living together. They both seemed to have avoidant tendencies where their relationship was concerned, not really knowing what they wanted and not capable of honesty discussing it. Paul Theroux seemed particularly bad at this, telling his wife the woman he later married wasn’t important but continuing to see her and emotionally depend on her.
The only bits I disliked were the earnest self righteous political thoughts but I suppose she’d been through the liberal Oxford BBC machine.
Glad she’s happier now.

Interesting to hear the other side

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I came to this book completely expecting to have my misandry reinforced, to hear about a horrible narcissistic bastard who ruined the life of an innocent and unsuspecting woman. Instead, I got an endless thin-lipped, bitter and joyless list of utterly tedious events which, when reflected upon, did not become illuminated by insight. Instead I just felt sorry for this literary genius, described as a philandering narcissist, who apparently tried very hard to love a cold, casually cruel, repressed and mean woman who seems to have been obsessed with writers but unwilling to be a writer's wife, instead attacking his art, his country and everyone else she comes across. She displayed herself as self-righteous, mean-spirited and totally lacking in talent or reflective process. I hope Paul Theroux found happiness with someone willing to celebrate him and life. I felt ashamed to be English listening to this.

Poor Paul, narrowly escaped being bored to death.

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