The Book of My Mother

“I loved her, I loved her, I loved her, and now she is no more.”

The Book of My Mother by Albert Cohen is a deeply personal and poignant memoir that explores the author’s grief and guilt following the death of his mother. Structured as a series of reflections rather than traditional chapters, the book unfolds as an intimate confession of love, loss, and regret.

Early Memories and Devotion

Cohen begins by recalling his mother’s unwavering love and devotion. He describes her as a selfless woman who lived entirely for her son, often sacrificing her own needs. Despite her deep affection, Cohen reflects on his own emotional distance, particularly as he grew older and pursued his literary career in Europe, leaving her behind in Marseille.

Absence and Neglect

As the narrative progresses, Cohen confronts his own neglect. He admits to rarely visiting or writing to his mother, consumed by his ambitions and social life. The few letters she sent—filled with simple, heartfelt words—are now treasured relics of her love, amplifying his remorse.

Her Loneliness and Death

He painfully recounts her final years, marked by solitude and longing. When she dies during World War II, Cohen is devastated, realizing too late the depth of his loss. The war’s chaos delays his ability to mourn properly, compounding his sorrow.

Grief and Self-Reproach

The latter part of the book is a raw outpouring of grief. Cohen berates himself for his selfishness, wishing he had cherished her more. He imagines her ghost watching him, heightening his anguish. The memoir becomes both an elegy and an attempt at atonement.

Legacy of Love

In the closing passages, Cohen acknowledges that his mother’s love shaped him irreplaceably. Though he cannot undo his past neglect, writing the book becomes a way to honor her memory and immortalize her tenderness.

Key Ideas

• A son’s profound regret over neglecting his mother.
• The universal pain of losing a parent.
• The contrast between a mother’s unconditional love and a child’s selfishness.
• Grief as a form of delayed emotional reckoning.
• Writing as an act of mourning and redemption.