Theory of My Broken Heart

No matter how much you love each other, «your background always comes to bed with you.’ It doesn't help that Liz, an aspiring writer on a scholarship, and Bob, a budding artist from a modest background, are fully aware of this fact. «Toothless proletariat» on one side, «upstart petty bourgeoisie» on the other, they initially share the dream of living as an equal artistic couple. But soon the balance begins to falter. Liz's first successes, while Bob loses his assistant job, are only the beginning. With every book sold, with every failed project, their roles become more entrenched, expectations, insecurities, demands and accusations intensify, until everything lies in ruins, both financially and emotionally. With self-deprecating humour and pointed commentary, Liz and Bob look back from the stage on the inexorable decline of their relationship – and yet, despite their dispassionate analysis, they cannot help but feel a certain melancholy.

Witty, clever and painfully honest, Theory of My Broken Heart explores the effects of social class on love – and ultimately takes a surprising turn to beat the system at its own game.