Student Essay on A History of the World in 10 1/2 Chapters

A History of the World in 10 1/2 Chapters by Julian Barnes

Essay

If I had to recommend one work of fiction to my fellow students, I would recommend "A History of the world in 10 1/2 Chapters" by Julian Barnes. With this book Barnes creates an interesting spin on history and the reality of it. In his first ten chapters he creates a non-chronological, incoherent stories about random and important events in history. Helping convey the idea that history is an absolute mess and cannot be fully summarized in a cohesive manner. Also with his use of narration, using several different viewpoints from several different, mostly unreliable and colorful narrators who add there own unique account of the event. The use of narration, not only makes the book incredibly interesting and facetious, but I believe it will help others to see that history is actually being created at every moment and that history can be interpreted differently, especially by those who experience it. Finally in the last half chapter, Barnes, again, creates another unique prospective by forming a didactic antecdote explaining aspects of life such as hope and love, mostly the lack thereof. The way that Barnes interprets love and life, makes the reader really consider his thoughts and ideas in such a way that no one has ever done before.