Souls in the Twilight

Book excerpt: "Scruton's multifaceted exploration of what it means to be a relational and responsible person is one of the great philosophical and literary projects of our time." — Daniel J. Mahoney, The New Criterion Follow the stories of lost souls seeking their place of belonging. As the light goes out, people begin to wander in the twilight. Set in recent times before the blinding glare of social media, this thoughtful collection of short stories explores the lives of those stuck in the in-between—those who are not quite where they belong, where they wished to be. With unfailing lightness of touch, Scruton portrays characters who cannot let go of the past: Yusuf, set on a path of revenge that bears no relation to his teenage life; Bill who wanders the world in his imagination but cannot leave his suburban living room; Sarah, whose insane mission to save the Lebanese Christians brings disaster to the only person she loves; Veronica, whose determination to look the truth in the face wraps her young life in deception—all of them lost to their surroundings, and yet, touchingly seeking a home in them. Lovers of the short story will appreciate Souls in the Twilight for its deeply personal insight and poetic drama.