A deeply resonant memoir for anyone who has loved and lost that is at once "remarkably uplifting" (Washington Post) and "crushing, lovely, painful, and above all powerful" (New York Journal of Books), from acclaimed poet and Pulitzer Prize finalist Elizabeth Alexander.

* Pulitzer Prize Finalist
* National Book Critics Circle Award Finalist
* A New Yorker, NPR, Boston Globe, Publisher's Weekly, Newsday, Library Journal, People.com, Shelf Awareness, The Root, and St. Louis Dispact Best Book Pick
* First Lady Michelle Obama's Favorite Book of 2015
* New York Times Book Review Editor's Choice
* An Amazon's Best Book of the Month
* #1 Indie Next Pick

In The Light of the World, Elizabeth Alexander finds herself at an existential crossroads after the sudden death of her husband. Channeling her poetic sensibilities into a rich, lucid price, Alexander tells a love story that is, itself, a story of loss. As she reflects on the beauty of her married life, the trauma resulting from her husband's death, and the solace found in caring for her two teenage sons, Alexander universalizes a very personal quest for meaning and acceptance in the wake of loss.

The Light of the World is at once an endlessly compelling memoir and a deeply felt meditation on the blessings of love, family, art, and community. It is also a lyrical celebration of a life well-lived and a paean to the priceless gift of human companionship. For those who have loved and lost, or for anyone who cares what matters most, The Light of the World is required reading.