The Gentleman From Peru by André Aciman

From the global bestselling author of Call Me By Your Name - a dazzling, sunbaked Italian summer story.

'Another masterful tale of longing and desire.'
Glamour

'Aciman writes with an aching sensitivity.'
JOHN BOYNE

'You don't so much read André Aciman's novels as tumble breathlessly into them.'
The Times

We spend more time than we know trying to go back. We call it fantasising, we call it dreaming. . . but we're all crawling back, each in his or her own way.

A group of college friends find themselves marooned at a luxurious hotel on the Amalfi Coast in Italy. While their boat is being repaired, they can't help but observe the daily routine of a fellow hotel guest - a mysterious, white-bearded stranger who sits on the veranda each night and smokes one cigarette, sometimes two. When the group decides to invite the elegant traveller to lunch with them, they cannot begin to imagine the miraculous abilities, strange wisdom, and a life-changing story he is about to impart to one of the friends in particular. . .

Deeply atmospheric and sensual, The Gentleman From Peru weaves achingly poignant insight into a story of regret, fate and epic love.

From the globally acclaimed author of Call Me By Your Name comes an enchanting, sun-soaked tale of a summer in Italy. "Another masterful depiction of yearning and passion." Glamour. "Aciman's writing is filled with poignant vulnerability." JOHN BOYNE. "André Aciman's novels are a plunge into captivating worlds." The Times. We spend more time than we realize trying to relive the past. We may call it fantasizing, we may call it dreaming... but in the end, we all find ourselves yearning for what was. Stranded at a luxurious hotel on the Amalfi Coast, a group of college friends becomes intrigued by a mysterious, white-bearded guest who sits on the veranda each night, smoking his cigarettes in silence. When they invite him to join them for lunch, they have no idea the profound impact he will have on one of their lives. With its rich sensory detail, The Gentleman From Peru is a moving tale of