Read this when
Darkness Visible
He called depression 'darkness visible.' And then he wrote the part where he came out and saw the stars. ✨
Who it's for
Styron, a celebrated novelist, gives a precise account of his collapse in 1985, beginning in Paris where he could barely get through a prize ceremony in his honour.
Feelings it meets
What it is
Darkness Visible is William Styron's short memoir of his descent into severe clinical depression and his recovery, first published in Vanity Fair in 1989 and as a book in 1990. It begins in Paris in October 1985, where Styron has travelled to receive a literary prize as his depression rapidly worsens.
Where to find it
In print (Vintage paperback); widely available from libraries (Libby/Hoopla) and as an audiobook. Not public domain.
Before you start
Heads up: Suicidal ideation and preparation.
Age: Ages 16+
Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow, Creeps in this petty pace from day to day,William Shakespeare, Macbeth, Act 5, Scene 5
