My Ear at His Heart
Hanif Kureishi
My Ear at His Heart is a distinguished work by Hanif Kureishi (Whitbread First Novel Award, CBE, PEN Pinter Prize), celebrated for its literary depth, resonant storytelling, and enduring cultural impact.
Read Time: ~2 hr
Venus
by Hanif Kureishi (2006)
About this book
Maurice and Ian are successful, but aging actors. The two are close friends whose conversation generally revolves around theatrical shop talk and the infirmities of other aging actors. Ian is fearful that death is right around the corner, so he agrees to let his niece's daughter, Jessie, move in to his flat to care for him. Jessie is a modern woman in her early twenties. She turns out to be a nightmare for Ian, especially since she is a hard-drinking, rude, and dismissive brat. But Maurice sees something else in the young woman, a potential for humanity which blossoms under his kindness and gentle guidance. For Maurice, something else blossoms as well--romantic love for a girl fifty years younger.
Setting / LocationSouth Asia / Global
Story EraContemporary
Protagonist / CoreNotable Characters
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