Love and Relationships
Love and relationships are central themes in The History of Love. The love between Leopold Gursky and Alma Mereminski culminates in a publication of a book where Gursky expresses his profound love to Alma. Gursky’s love for Alma is strong to such an extent that he requests her to marry him at the age of eleven years. Alma’s father sent her to America due to the rise of totalitarianism across Europe. However, Gursky is overwhelmed by the love and decides to follow her in the US. All these incidents are happening courtesy of love.
Loss and Death
Loss and death are other predominant themes in this novel. When Gursky travels to the U.S, his sole mission is to find and get married to Alma. However, he finds that Alma is married to another man. Gursky tries everything to win her back but in vain. Therefore, he has to deal with the loss of her lover. The book also indicates that Isaac, Gursky’s son, dies before he meets his father. Alma’s father also dies when she is young.
Struggle for Recognition and Acknowledgment
Some characters in this novel are struggling to get acknowledged as gifted people. For instance, Zvi Litvinoff is given a manuscript by Gursky but he decides to publish it under his name. Litvinoff believes Gursky was killed in Poland during World War II. Therefore, he decides to publish Gursky’s book under his name. Litvinoff is doing all this to be recognized. Gursky is also known for pulling stunts to be recognized. For example, he reacts to an advert of a naked model to get acknowledged.
Isolation and Alienation
Several characters in this novel feel isolated and alienated. Gursky is an old man but leads a lonely and isolated life after Alma rejects him. At his old age, no one seems to care for him. The desolate life makes him believe that he will die lonely. When Alma’s father dies, her mother becomes isolated. This makes Alma look for a man to marry her mother. Alma believes that her mother won’t be alienated if she gets a husband.
Despair and Depression
When Gursky finds out that Alma is married to another man, he falls into depression. As a result, he vows not to get in love with any other girl. Gursky is hopeless in life after failing to marry Alma. Alma’s mother also sinks into depression after the death of her husband. The book suggests that Alma’s mother hides from the outside world due to despair and stress. To forget about her husband’s demise, she becomes a book translator.
