The classic book on love by the bestselling author of How Proust Can Change Your Life and The Consolations of Philosophy.

'De Botton is a national treasure.' - Susan Hill, author of The Woman in Black

A unique love story and a classic work of philosophy, rooted in the mysterious workings of the human heart and mind.

Perhaps it is true that we do not really exist until there is someone there to see us existing, we cannot properly speak until there is someone who can understand what we are saying in essence, we are not wholly alive until we are loved.

A man and woman on a flight from Paris to London, and so begins their love story. From first kiss to first argument, infatuation to heartbreak, de Botton illuminates each stage of their relationship with a clarity both startling and tender.

With the verve of a novelist and the insight of a philosopher, Essays in Love unveils the mysteries of the human heart. It is essential reading for anyone seeking instruction in the art of love.

"Witty, funny, sophisticated, neatly tied up, and full of wise and illuminating insights" - The Spectator

"I doubt if de Botton has written a dull sentence in his life." - New Statesman

"Single-handedly, de Botton has taken philosophy back to its simplest and most important purpose: helping us to live our lives" - Independent

"It's a familiar tale but there is nothing predictable about De Botton's explanation of how love enthrals us all. This is no light romance but a sort of "When Harry Met Sally Meets Roland Barthes". . . A novel of wit and insight; whatever the state of your love life, it will make entertaining and sometimes painful, sometimes profitable reading" - Time Out