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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.
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)
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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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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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- hjw
- 20-09-21
Very moving and beautifully written
I have listened to this book twice now. It is profoundly sad but uplifting at the same time. Louisa Young graphically describes the agony of having a partner who is ill with alcoholism and how his illness destroys him. I don’t think I have ever read a book like this before and doubt I will again. Superb.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Silvia
- 02-02-23
Absolutely love her voice
Brutal, sad and authentic I absolutely loved every single bit! Can’t stress enough how much I love the narrator voice tho 🥰
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Colin
- 13-02-23
Great true life story
Maybe it’s true that lights that burn twice as bright burn half as long.
Written from the heart of the author with true descriptions of the decline of a truly gifted person to alcohol.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Luiza
- 17-05-23
brilliant
i loved this from beginning to the end. also this that writer is reading this storry too.
thank you for this book Louise! amazing!!!!
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- 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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- 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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