The Love Affair of Nathaniel P Summary
Adelle Waldman

The Love Affair of Nathaniel P Overview

Adelle Waldman’s The Love Affairs of Nathaniel P. chronicles the thought process of Nate, a brilliant literary rising star on the New York scene as he struggles to find his way to happiness. As soon as Nate scores a book deal, his lurid past with women comes back to haunt him. There is Elisa, his most recent ex, who still has a thing for him, and Juliette, whom he recently got pregnant and accuses him of being an asshole. Nate meets Hannah, different from any woman he has ever dated, worthy of his time and interest. But true to his pattern of disappointing women, Nate pulls away from Hannah over their five-month-long relationship. Swinging from one mood to another and never fully satisfied, Nate examines his own thoughts and never really comprehends why he cannot make a success of a committed relationship. Waldman explores themes of solitude versus community, the hypocrisies of liberal guilt, and an inside look into one modern man’s thoughts on women, sex and love.