ABSTRACT
Enduring Love was first published in 1997 and critical commentary on the novel to date is limited. In this chapter, I will nonetheless summarise key points from the reviews, essays and books that have offered up fresh readings or provided insights into the workings of McEwan’s sixth novel, beginning with comments by the author himself and some of the most influential early press reviews before moving on to consider also later and longer criticism. Enduring Love was generally well received from the start and its reputation has not declined. Praise for the first chapter was particularly forthcoming from all quarters on publication, and the opening pages remain a well-known example of taut, compelling imaginative prose that hook the reader from the start. However, the narration, structure and characterisation of the novel have all drawn criticisms, and these will be touched on in this chapter.
