46 pages • 1 hour read
A God in Ruins
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Summary and Study Guide
Overview
A God in Ruins is a historical fiction novel by Kate Atkinson. Published in 2015, it is known as a companion piece to Atkinson’s prior novel, Life After Life, and contains many of the same characters. Set against the backdrop of World War II, A God in Ruins examines themes of sacrifice, secrets, family, and the way that war transforms people.
Plot Summary
The events of the novel unfold between 1925 and 2012, and each chapter takes place in a different year. The story is not told chronologically and jumps back and forth in time, sometimes even within the same page or section. The story is told by an unnamed, omniscient narrator, who occasionally breaks away from the characters to provide information that the character could not know.
The main character and chief protagonist is Teddy Todd. He is the husband of Nancy, father to Viola, and grandfather to Bertie and Sunny. Teddy served as a bomber pilot for the Royal Air Force (RAF) during World War II.
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By Kate Atkinson
