Absolution: A Novel Summary

Everything you need to understand or teach Absolution.

  • Absolution: A Novel Summary & Study Guide

Absolution: A Novel Overview

In Alice McDermott’s novel Absolution, Patricia Kelly relocates to Saigon with her husband, Peter, during the war. Years later, she attempts to convey her experiences in Vietnam to her late friend’s daughter, Rainey. Although Patricia is desperate to be understood, writing to Rainey about her past exposes her complex political standpoints and misconceptions. Written from the first person points of view of both Patricia and Rainey, the novel explores themes including memory, loss, and belonging. 

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