"What if we had a chance to do it again and again, until we finally did get it right? Wouldn't that be wonderful?This comment is made rather late in the book by Teddy, Ursula Todd's beloved brother.
Ursula Todd, the heroine of the story, is born in the winter of 1910 - and immediately dies due to the umbilical cord being wrapped around her neck. She is born again and again until she finally manages to survive to childhood. Ursula dies over and over again. Small changes in circumstances sometimes result in large effects. Ursula does not remember the details of past incarnations, but seems to have a sense of "deja vu" which seems to influence her to make slight changes in her actions which have profound impact. Ursula's many lives are intricately interwoven with what is happening in England and Europe in the years between 1910 and May of 1945. I won't spoil your enjoyment of the book by telling you more, but I enjoyed the book immensely.
Other reviews of Life after Life are linked to below:
Alex Clark - The Guardian
Meg Wolitzer - NPR Books
