The Great Believers

WINNER OF THE CARNEGIE MEDAL

FINALIST FOR THE NATIONAL BOOK AWARDS

WINNER OF THE STONEWALL BOOK AWARD - BARBARA GITTINGS LITERATURE AWARD

FINALIST FOR THE LA Times FICTION AWARD

'Stirring, spellbinding and full of life' – Téa Obreht, New York Times bestselling author of The Tiger's Wife

The Great Believers by Rebecca Makkai is a compelling and deeply moving narrative that unfolds across two timelines. In 1985, Yale Tishman, the development director for an art gallery in Chicago, is on the cusp of a professional triumph: securing an extraordinary collection of 1920s paintings for the gallery. Despite this professional breakthrough, Yale's personal life is overshadowed by the heartbreak and devastation brought by the AIDS epidemic. After the funeral of his friend Nico, Yale's world is further shaken when he discovers that his partner may be infected, and he himself could possibly have the virus. In the midst of this turmoil, his only solace comes from Fiona, Nico's younger sister, as they both navigate the grief and fear enveloping their community.

Fast forward thirty years later, Fiona is in Paris on a quest to find her estranged daughter, who has vanished into a cult. As she stays with an old friend, a renowned photographer who captured the harrowing realities of the Chicago AIDS crisis, Fiona is forced to confront the lingering impact the epidemic had on her life and her relationship with her daughter. Through the interwoven stories of Yale and Fiona, Makkai creates a rich tapestry that explores the resilience of the human spirit, the complexities of love and friendship, and the enduring effects of a public health crisis that changed countless lives forever.

The Great Believers involves an evocative portrayal of sorrow and tenacity, with characters who are vividly drawn and entirely human in their imperfections and strengths. The novel illuminates the devastating reach of the AIDS epidemic while also tenderly exploring the themes of loyalty, loss, and redemption. Yale and Fiona's journeys are told with such grace and poignancy that readers will be swept away by their intertwined fates, ultimately reminding us of the enduring power of hope and the unyielding human capacity to rebuild and believe again.