Celebrated British author Julian Barnes has revealed that his forthcoming novel will be the last of his distinguished literary career. The announcement comes as the writer, a titan of contemporary fiction, prepares to celebrate his 80th birthday.
A Career Culmination: 'I've Played All My Tunes'
In a candid interview, Barnes explained his decision to step away from writing books, stating he has reached a natural creative conclusion. "One way of thinking about how long you go on is, 'As long as they'll still publish you'," he said. "But that can be misleading. I shouldn't write a book just because it would be published. You ought to go on until you've said everything you've got to say, and I've reached that point."
He added that he has the distinct sense "that I've played all my tunes". While he plans to continue writing journalism and reviews—a craft he practised before becoming a novelist—he confirmed that in terms of books, "this is my last".
'Departure(s)': A Final Exploration of Familiar Themes
The novel in question, titled Departure(s), is described as a hybrid work blending memoir, essay, and fiction. It centres on Barnes's role as an intermediary for two anonymised friends, Stephen and Jean, who had a romantic relationship before parting ways.
The book promises to weave together the central themes that have defined his 45-year career:
- Memory and its fallibility
- The complexities of love and friendship
- The process of ageing and the contemplation of death
This final work serves as a poignant capstone to a bibliography that includes 15 novels and 10 works of nonfiction.
Health, Happiness, and a 'Lucky Life'
Barnes also spoke openly about his personal life, including his health. Six years ago, he was diagnosed with a rare form of blood cancer, which he manages with daily chemotherapy pills. Of his condition, he remarked, "Right now, it's a score draw... But as long as it continues to be stable, it just contributes to a weakening of the organism. And I'm just used to it."
On a happier note, he recently disclosed that he secretly remarried in August of last year to publisher Rachel Cugnoni, a partner of eight years and a friend of nearly three decades. This follows the tragic loss of his first wife, literary agent Pat Kavanagh, who died from a brain tumour in 2008 when Barnes was 62.
Reflecting on his journey, the avowed atheist expressed profound gratitude. "I've led a lucky life," he said. "If you'd told me when I was 30 I'd write lots of books which a lot of people like to read, I'd have been staggered. So I'm very pleased about that."
When questioned about the fear of death, Barnes offered a thoughtful perspective shaped by age and illness: "I used to be terrified of death, but after spending about 10 years with a body falling apart or not behaving well, I don't feel resigned to it... But losing your life when you're just holding on … who can tell?"
A Legacy Secured: From 'Metroland' to the Booker Prize
Julian Barnes's literary legacy is firmly established. His first novel, Metroland, was published in 1980, but his major breakthrough came with his third book, Flaubert's Parrot in 1984, which was shortlisted for the Booker Prize.
He would be shortlisted twice more—for England, England and Arthur & George—before finally winning the coveted Booker Prize in 2011 for The Sense of an Ending. Notably, he also writes crime fiction under the pseudonym Dan Kavanagh.
With the announcement of Departure(s) as his final novel, the literary world prepares to receive the last major work from one of Britain's most revered and intellectually agile writers, marking the end of a significant chapter in modern letters.
