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The Elements

Published
Sep 2025
Main Genre
Literary Literary
Rating
Pages
496

About This Book

From bestselling author John Boyne, a gripping and profound exploration of guilt, blame, trauma, and the human capacity for redemption.

In The Elements, acclaimed Irish novelist John Boyne has created an epic saga that weaves together four interconnected narratives, each representing a different perspective on crime: the enabler, the accomplice, the perpetrator, and the victim.

The narrative follows a mother on the run from her past, a young soccer star facing a trial, a successful surgeon grappling with childhood trauma, and a father on a transformative journey with his son. Each is somehow connected to the next, and as the story unfolds, their lives intersect in unimaginable ways.

Boyne's most ambitious work yet, The Elements is both an engrossing drama and a moving investigation of why and how we allow crime to occur. With masterful, spellbinding prose, he navigates this complex subject with extraordinary empathy and unflinching honesty. The story resonates on a deeply emotional level, challenging readers to confront their own conceptions of guilt and innocence at every step. Amid the wildly engrossing storytelling, the book ultimately asks: What would you do when faced with the unthinkable?

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Formats & Editions

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Paperback

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Paperback
Sep 2026 Holt Paperbacks ISBN 1250413346
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Hardcover

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Hardcover
First Edition Sep 2025 Henry Holt ISBN 1250410363
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eBook

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eBook
Sep 2025 -- Not Selected ISBN B0DQJ6K9KJ
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eBook
Sep 2025 Henry Holt ISBN 1250410274
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eBook
Sep 2025 Transworld (UK) ISBN 1473599857
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Audio

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Audible
May 2025 -- Not Selected ISBN B0DLLBVMH3
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