**Elisabeth Demand**  
A 32-year-old junior lecturer in London who navigates an unstable professional life and maintains a deep friendship with her mentor, Daniel Gluck.

**Daniel Gluck**  
A 101-year-old songwriter and Elisabeth’s mentor, known for his rich inner life and vivid memories that explore the fluidity of time.

**Wendy Demand**  
Elisabeth's mother, who initially displays cynicism but transforms into a passionate activist, influenced by personal and political events.

**Pauline Boty**  
A historical British pop artist whose work and spirit play a symbolic role in the narrative, representing art's subversive power.

**Zoe Spencer-Barnes**  
A former child actor and psychoanalyst who becomes Wendy's romantic partner, bringing joy and solidarity into her life.

- Autumn is often regarded as one of the first novels to react to the political changes brought about by the Brexit vote in the United Kingdom in 2016.
- The publication of Autumn marked the beginning of Ali Smith's ambitious Seasonal Quartet, an innovative literary project where each novel corresponds to a different season.
- Ali Smith was shortlisted for the 2017 Man Booker Prize with Autumn, showcasing her ability to capture the contemporary zeitgeist with creativity and depth.

Readers who enjoy introspective, contemporary fiction with rich prose and layered themes, resembling the style of Virginia Woolf’s Mrs. Dalloway or Zadie Smith’s NW, will appreciate Autumn by Ali Smith. The novel’s exploration of time, memory, and identity will resonate with those interested in social commentary and lyrical storytelling.

Ali Smith's Autumn has drawn praise for its innovative narrative structure and timely themes, capturing the post-Brexit British zeitgeist with wit and poignancy. Readers appreciate its rich, lyrical prose and thought-provoking exploration of time and memory. However, some find the fragmented storytelling challenging and occasionally disjointed. Overall, it's an evocative, if complex, read.

In Autumn by Ali Smith, a friendship blossoms between Elisabeth, a young woman, and her elderly neighbor, Daniel. The novel explores themes of time, memory, and the political climate in post-Brexit Britain, reflecting on cultural and social changes. The narrative intertwines past and present, offering a poignant commentary on contemporary issues.

Melancholic / Contemplative / Mysterious / Bittersweet / Nostalgic

Study Guide

Book Brief

Explore Autumn reviews, reading age recommendations, and essential genre and thematic details before you start reading.

About Autumn

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Overview

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Autumn Summary

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Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of illness, death, death by suicide, and racism.

Background

Autumn Background

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Chapter Summaries & Analyses

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Part 1, Chapters 1-7

Autumn Part 1, Chapters 1-7

Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of racism, religious discrimination, and cursing.

Part 1, Chapters 8-13

Autumn Part 1, Chapters 8-13

Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of death and racism.

Part 2, Chapters 14-19

Autumn Part 2, Chapters 14-19

Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of illness, death, animal death, racism, and gender discrimination.

Part 2, Chapters 20-25

Autumn Part 2, Chapters 20-25

Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of death, racism, antigay bias, and substance use.

Part 3, Chapters 26-30

Autumn Part 3, Chapters 26-30

Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of death, racism, and gender discrimination.

Part 3, Chapters 31-37

Autumn Part 3, Chapters 31-37

characters

Character List

Autumn Character List

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Character Analysis

Autumn Character Analysis

theme

Themes

Autumn Themes

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Symbols & Motifs

Autumn Symbols & Motifs

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Autumn: A Novel

Autumn: A Novel

Book Brief

Autumn

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Reviews & Readership

Review Roundup

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