Summer

“Summer,” the poignant and timely culmination of Ali Smith’s acclaimed Seasonal Quartet, navigates the turbulent currents of contemporary life and the indelible echoes of the past. In a present fraught with global unrest and personal strife, teenager Sacha grapples with a world seemingly on the brink, her brother Robert embodying defiance, and her parents caught in their own domestic turmoil. This narrative of dissolution is intricately interwoven with a journey back to a “lovely summer” from a bygone era, where another brother and sister live a transient existence, aware their time is limited. Smith masterfully contrasts these two timelines, exploring the profound connections and disconnections that define family, the fluidity of identity, and the relentless march of history. “Summer” is a lyrical meditation on memory, forgiveness, and the elusive quest for understanding in a world perpetually undergoing profound change, inviting readers to reflect on what truly binds us when everything else seems to fall apart. It's a powerful and poetic examination of humanity’s resilience and vulnerability amidst chaos, closing an era-defining literary project.