The Sense of an Ending by Julian Barnes is a brief yet thought-provoking novel about memory, regret, and self-deception. Similar in tone to On Chesil Beach by Ian McEwan, it explores youth, class, sexuality, and the unreliability of recollection. The story follows Tony Webster, a retired man who revisits his past, especially his friendship with the brilliant Adrian Finn and his uneasy relationship with Veronica Ford. Tony’s memories of the 1960s—marked by emotional immaturity and social awkwardness—gradually unravel when he receives a mysterious bequest from Veronica’s mother. This prompts him to confront long-buried truths about Adrian’s suicide and his own role in past events. As the narrative unfolds, it becomes clear that Tony has selectively edited his memories to protect himself. Drawing on the idea of “peripeteia” from The Sense of an Ending by Frank Kermode, the novel builds toward a subtle but powerful twist. Ultimately, it reflects on how memory shapes identity and how confronting the past can unsettle our sense of self.
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