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You Left Early
- A True Story of Love and Alcohol
- Narrated by: Louisa Young
- Length: 12 hrs and 2 mins
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You Left Early
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Summary
This brutal, beautiful memoir from award-winning novelist Louisa Young is a heartbreaking portrayal of love, grief and the merciless grip of addiction.
Louisa first met Robert Lockhart when they were both 17. Their stop-start romance lasted decades, in which time he became a celebrated composer and she an acclaimed novelist. Always snapping at their heels was Robert’s alcoholism, a helpless, ferocious dependency that affected his personality before crippling and finally, despite five years of hard-won sobriety, killing him.
There are a million love stories and a million stories of addiction. This one is truly transcendent. It is at once a compelling portrait of a unique and charismatic man, a bittersweet reflection on an all-consuming love affair and a completely honest and incredibly affecting guide to how the partner of an alcoholic can possibly survive when the disease rips both their lives apart.
This is a hugely important book. Raw and unflinching but also uplifting and elegiac, it should be essential listening for anybody who’s ever lost someone they loved.
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Critic reviews
"Spectacular. I can’t stop thinking about it. Louisa Young is a beautiful, beautiful writer and there is great courage and love in the way she addresses her subject. It’s the portrait of a man and his times and his illness told with love but also with an unflinching honesty that feels like a great gift to the reader." (Cathy Rentzenbrink, author of The Last Act of Love)
"Oh my God, it’s so beautiful, and heartbreaking, and true." (Sam Baker, The Pool)
What listeners say about You Left Early
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Mrs. Jacqueline M. Carter
- 10-10-19
Heart wrenchingly
Agonising and brilliant, made me cry often, but in the next breath lifted me up again; SO beautifully written and narrated. It felt like a privilege to have been allowed a glimpse into Robert and Louisa's story, special and forever memorable.
😖😎💕
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3 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Mclawz
- 20-06-21
Heartbreaking tale of love an addiction.
This is a heart rendering tale of love between two ‘soul mates’ and the third entity in the relationship- alcohol.
Louisa Young’s prose is beautiful (as anyone who has read any of her other books might expect ) and desperately sad at times, though shot through with moments of absurd joy.
This is an excellent portrayal of what it is like to love with addiction and ultimately what it is to be in love with someone who loves something else more.
I don’t love Young’s narration- but she doesn’t make too bad a fist of it.
A fantastic book , well worth a credit.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- J*c
- 24-12-19
An emotional journey
Once I had tuned into Louisa’s voice I was taken on an emotional rollercoaster. The sister of an alcoholic brother I felt her pain. The ending had me weeping in Tesco’s carpark wishing I had met Robert and listened to his music
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- mummy
- 23-11-23
honesty
the love sadness heart wrenching honesty that Lou told in her story had me speechless, thank you for telling this story, admiration all the way, hope you find someone who adores you, you are a truely beautiful talented person. I never wanted your story to end, the detail in how you told the story was amazing I felt I was with you in the room... thank you
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Spencer
- 06-08-20
Beautifully Tragic
A very moving and heart felt story of a gradual process of self destruction.
The view of Louisa is one of a fly on the wall as well as someone who is completely immersed in this painful journey.
Louisas use of humour and strength is a amazing ability, with this combination she tells her story quite magnificently.
Thought provoking and vert touching.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Kate R
- 06-02-20
Thoroughly enjoyed the story
Written beautifully, felt as though I knew them both. Related to many parts. Really enjoyed it
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- E. Berrington
- 23-07-22
Poignant, and brilliant
When it came to “how many stars” I thought, this is not a story, this is one woman’s account of her fight for her love. This is brilliant Louisa.
You have not only put into words your struggle, but you have made all of us who have read or listened Realise this is a real struggle for very many people, and I will in future be able to understand the very real struggle some people have with alcohol. Thank you very much for a truly poignant and brilliant book
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance2 out of 5 stars
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Story2 out of 5 stars
- ania
- 13-09-19
Dull
I found this book really dull. The author seems to consider an unhealthy and parasitic relationship with Robert - a passionate love affair. I struggled with that approach. Also, Robert, even despite his alcoholism, appears to be an unpleasant, selfish and egocentric man, who uses women as it suits him. This is a very disappointing memoir about alcoholism because the author displays ignorance about this subject.
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2 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- mhamh
- 15-07-21
Utterly captivating
What an emotional rollercoaster I have endured, listening to Louisa's beautiful voice reading her witty, tragic story of her unconditional love for her gifted yet defiant and invincible fiance. I lost count of the number of lumps in my throat or my incredulity of Robert's stupidity at times. This book plumbs the depths of addiction, lifts you up and takes you down.I spluttered with laughter at some of the conversations between them - clever quips yet tinged with happiness and sadness in equal measure. The recollection of diary entries makes it so very personal.
Extremely well written and beautifully narrated. More please !
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Sandie
- 01-09-22
Good listen
Took me a while to get into it but so glad I continued, what a story to tell. Louisa you are amazing.
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