Autumn by Ali Smith [Book Review]

Autumn by Ali Smith is the first in a series of seasonal quartets following the 2016 Brexit referendum. Written a mere four months after the election, this book has been hailed as the first fictional book to do so and praised highly for her achievement.

Despite only having been written a few months after the election, Smith manages to give this post-Brexit feel in her writing, even as the back-drop to Elisabeth, the protagonist, reminiscing about her past with Daniel Gluck, her ‘old gay’ neighbour. Daniel talks to her about life, the universe and art, with poems, songs and a play-on-words to keep Elisabeth questioning being thrown into the mix.

Smith fluctuating writing between prose and versus makes the novel fun and quirky, reflecting the somewhat confused and immature attitude people had to the Brexit elections. This seems even more poignant four and a half years later when Brexit negotiations have still not been settled and the government appears in shambles, not fully grasping the severity of the situation and the implications it’ll have. While it does take some time to get used to her writing, I managed to love it by the end.

Elisabeth’s mundane life contrasted to Daniel’s imagination is what seems to keep Elisabeth going at times. It is clear that Daniel’s effect on her as a child has remained with her, making her a witty, intelligent and inquisitive character, quick to be sassy and quick to see the irony or importance in things. Her post office scenes hone in this point even more, but they’re also used as a microcosm for the bureaucratic endeavours and the stupidity of them all. Government can’t solve Brexit. Post Office can’t solve Elisabeth’s passport problems. The ‘it’ll make life easier’ comment we often hear, has been ripped into by Smith, mocking every word in that phrase until the meaning is being laughed at. Sadly, we still need passport renewals and government are still negotiating Brexit. Oh how Smith knew so much.

Overall, this book is definitely not for everyone, and I’m afraid not everyone will ‘get it’, but if you’re interested in a book that mocks our current political climate but is equally extremely aware of its importance and global meaning, this book is definitely for you!

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5

Purchase from:

Amazon UK here.

Amazon US here.