On Green Dolphin Street is a novel by Sebastian Faulks, published by Hutchinson in 2001. The title comes from a 1947 composition by Bronislau Kaper and Ned Washington -- written for the Hollywood film Green Dolphin Street -- and later recorded by jazz musicians Miles Davis , and Bill Evans , among others. On Green Dolphin Street narrates the troubles, fears, dilemmas, problems and happiness of its main characters. There is an implicit feeling of nostalgia in the novel, a nostalgia for a time when everything seemed possible and life was full of hope and expectations. This, of course, also... denotes the idea of disillusionment, a theme Faulkes also explores in his earlier novel, The Long White Winter. This is encapsulated by Mary and Charlie. Charlie has seemingly lost the will to live, or at least he lacks the enthusiasm that he had as a younger man. He has a depressing outlook on life, Mary recognises this sentiment and agrees that life is largely irrational—in that death takes everyone eventually, a theme explored through Mary's mother's death—but sees hope in love. Her relationship with Frank reinvigorates her outlook.
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