The History of Love is a novel written by American writer Nicole Krauss, and was first published by W.W. Norton & Company on May 2, 2005.
The poem follows the life of Leopold (Leo) Gursky as he reflects on his lost love, Alma, over the years. Major themes of heartbreak, depression and the nature of life are present throughout the course of the book. Leo is left heartbroken when Nazi Germany separates him from Alma, and this is the last time the two are ever happy again. When reunited, despite still being in love with him, Alma chooses to sacrifice their life to provide a good upbringing for her children.
Unable to cope with this, Leo fails to move on with his life. Instead of finding someone else to love, he is stuck on Alma and refuses to find love elsewhere. In a way, his refusal to move on is of his own doing and a way in which he inflicted heartbreak upon himself. He allows his love for her to continue to haunt him, and as such, he is left alone in his elderly age, still reminiscing about their romance.
Moreover, his unhappiness at the situation leaves him depressed for most of his life. He never fully got closure and so could not move on. However, when the young Alma Singer sees him in the park, he realizes that his Alma is never coming back and that he needs to move on – and it is implied that he does so by finally accepting death.
