JustineJustine
Score Classic
What it's about
In Alexandria, Egypt, an Irish schoolmaster, a tormented Jewish woman, a Greek cabaret dancer and a Coptic financier play out their destinies. It's the first volume of The Alexandria Quartet, four interlocking novels that tell one story of passion and deception from different points of view.
Why it's worth reading
It's on the Guardian's list of 1,000 novels everyone must read. Its city is as vivid a character as any of its people.
You'll love it if you liked
The Alexandria Quartet
The English Patient
The LeopardGood to know
It's the first of four books, and the later ones change how you see it. The prose is lush and dense.
By the numbers
- Readers52 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics30 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Bestseller11 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
Why it made the list
Reads as
Moving
More by Lawrence Durrell
If you like this, read next
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Quick answers
Is Justine worth reading?
Yes. It's on the Guardian's list of 1,000 novels everyone must read. It ranks #2,036 of the 3,057 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 64.7 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is Justine about?
In Alexandria, Egypt, an Irish schoolmaster, a tormented Jewish woman, a Greek cabaret dancer and a Coptic financier play out their destinies. It's the first volume of The Alexandria Quartet, four interlocking novels that tell one story of passion and deception from different points of view.
How long does it take to read Justine?
About 6 hours (253 pages), or about 2 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after Justine?
If you liked it, try The Alexandria Quartet by Lawrence Durrell, The English Patient by Michael Ondaatje or The Leopard by Giuseppi di Lampedusa.