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- This is the article about the novel by Hanif Kureishi. For the meaning of the word in the interpersonal context see Intimacy, for the 2001 film see Intimacy (2001 film).
Intimacy was published in 1998 by Hanif Kureishi. The novel deals with a middle-aged man and his thoughts about leaving his wife and 2 young sons.
Synopsis
Set in the contemporary London, the story tells why the protagonist wants to leave his family. The timespan of the novel is roughly 24 hours. The novel was loosely adapted to a movie Intimacy (2001 film) in 2001.
He has lived with his wife for 6 years and has known her for 10, he is unhappy in his marriage and has had several affairs. The trigger for him deciding to leave his wife is more or less that his young lover one day says to him. "If you want me, I'm here". After that he gradually admits to himself that he's not happy with his wife.
There is no actual development of the main character, and in the end he leaves the family.
Style and theme
The writing style is similar to Imre Kertész's Kaddis a meg nem született gyermekért (Kaddish for a Child Not Born). That is inner dialog mixed with flashbacks, explaining and contemplating the thoughts of the protagonist.
Some of the themes of the book is the following.
- Old family constructs in a modern society.
- Sexual desires versus intellectual desires.
- Drug use isn't always followed by drug abuse.
External links
"Intimacy (book)"