Less is a 2018 novel by American author Andrew Sean Greer and the winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 2018. It is a comedic novel about a struggling writer’s mid-life crisis, as he embarks on an international journey to avoid attending his ex-boyfriend’s wedding.
The novel opens with the protagonist, Arthur Less, at a crossroads in his life. He is a writer in his forties, whose career is stalled and quickly evaporating. His previous works of fiction—five in total—received only modest success. Rejecting his invitations to be sent to publications to cover his ex-boyfriend’s wedding, he decides to embark upon an international journey he dubs ‘the lesser tour’. In a sense, this is a desperate attempt to distract himself from the pain of his on-going love life, while also running away from the state of his stagnating career.
He soon finds himself travelling through Mexico, Italy, India, Germany and Morocco on a mission to rediscover himself. As he arrives in each country, discovering new people and places, an array of comical, hilarious and endearing moments soon ensue.
The most important encounter during his journey is a reoccurring association with a man called Robert, one of the few people that Arthur has known for more than a few minutes. Although at first Robert appears to be a responsibility, Arthur soon comes to appreciate him immensely. Robert saves Arthur from a multitude of crises and consistently offers sage advice throughout the journey.
Amongst the many characters he meets along his journey, Arthur then meets and briefly falls in love with Raymond. The emotionally charged and potentially life-altering encounter serves as a reminder of Arthur’s inability to decide between his strong desires for love and independence.
Once Arthur finds himself in Barcelona, the impact of his journey and his imminent reunion with Robert become harshly clear. All of the activities he was running away from—his career, his love life and his personal growth as an individual—become unavoidable as they all duel for his attention.
The novel's conclusion is inevitably confrontational. As Arthur, now standing on the cusp of reality, is given a choice between facing the reality of his life or the fantasy of his journey, his thoughts, his desires, his successes and his failures are laid bare and he is forced to realize his true potential.
Overall, Andrew Sean Greer's Less is a rarity in contemporary fiction, as it is an immensely successful combination of humour, heartache, longing and imagination. Through a uniquely crafted coming-of-age story, intertwined with moments of hilarity and heartbreak, Greer paints a portrait of a man searching for his place in the world and his lost sense of self. It is a captivating and truly moving experience for readers.
