The Country Life

In Rachel Cusk’s captivating novel, The Country Life, a young woman named Stella Benson leaves her life in London behind to work as an au pair for an eccentric British gentry family in a quaint Sussex village. As she navigates her new role amid the peculiarities of the Maddens, questions about her mysterious past and her choice to sever ties with her family come to the forefront. This richly woven story explores themes of embarrassment, loneliness, and the complexities of love and identity, making for an engaging journey of self-discovery.