This 2008 book-length essay about death is typically, for Julian Barnes, indeterminate in genre. Although Barnes insists it is not autobiography, it contains ample investigation into the lives of his parents and the facts of his upbringing, and, while he devotes a good deal of space to theological questions, much of the memorable material in
Nothing to Be Frightened Ofinvolves his subtle probing of what it means to be a novelist. Barnes is known for the precision and elegance of his writing, as well as for his wit; these elements are in evidence here, although the journal-like character of the book means that in manner it is more tentative and grim than Barnes enthusiasts might expect. Ultimately,
Nothing to Be Frightened Ofis perhaps at its most moving when it chronicles Julian…
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Citation: Sorensen, Sue. "Nothing to be Frightened Of". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 19 September 2014 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/sworks.php?rec=true&UID=23817, accessed 26 November 2024.]
