Justine, published in 1957, is the first volume in Lawrence Durrell's literary tetralogy, The Alexandria Quartet. The first in the tetralogy, Justine is one of four interlocking novels, each of which tells various aspects of a complex story of passion and deception from differing points of view. The quartet is set in the Egyptian city of Alexandria in the 1930s and 1940s, the city itself as described by Durrell becoming as much of a complex character as the human protagonists of the novels. Since first becoming available to the public and reviewers in 1957, Justine has inspired what has been called "an almost religious devotion among readers and critics alike." It was adapted into the film of the same name in 1969.
“Who invented the human heart, I wonder? Tell me and then show me the place where he was hanged.”
Lawrence Durrell book Justine
Variant: Who invented the human heart, I wonder? Tell me, and then show me the place where he was hanged.
Source: Justine
“A city becomes a world when one loves one of its inhabitants.”
Lawrence Durrell book Justine
Source: The Alexandria Quartet (1957–1960), Justine (1957)
