PAPERBACK

Conditions – New

Description :

“Middlesex” is a novel by Jeffrey Eugenides, published in 2002. The book won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 2003 and has been widely acclaimed for its complex narrative and exploration of identity. Here’s an overview of the novel:

1. **Plot Summary**:
– **Protagonist**: The story is narrated by Cal Stephanides, who was born intersex and raised as a girl named Calliope.
– **Family Saga**: The novel spans three generations of the Stephanides family, beginning with Cal’s grandparents, Lefty and Desdemona, who emigrate from Greece to America in the 1920s.
– **Identity and Transformation**: As Calliope grows up in Detroit during the 1960s and 1970s, she struggles with her gender identity. At age 14, she discovers that she is intersex and eventually decides to live as a man, adopting the name Cal.
– **Historical Context**: The novel intertwines Cal’s personal journey with significant historical events, including the Greco-Turkish War, the Great Depression, and the Detroit race riots.

2. **Themes**:
– **Identity and Self-Discovery**: The novel explores the fluidity of gender and the journey towards self-acceptance.
– **Family and Heritage**: It delves into the impact of family history and cultural heritage on individual identity.
– **Transformation and Change**: Both on a personal and societal level, the novel examines the theme of transformation, whether through immigration, puberty, or historical upheavals.

3. **Narrative Style**:
– The novel is known for its richly descriptive prose and intricate narrative