the tennis partner

Book Details

Title: The Tennis Partner: A Story of Friendship and Loss
Author: Abraham Verghese
Publisher: Harper Perennial
Language: English
Binding: Paperback
ISBN: 9780062116390
Pages: 345
Published Year: 2009 Edition
Dimensions: 20 x 13 cm
Condition: Used – Good
Condition Note: Book is in good condition.

About the Book

The Tennis Partner by Abraham Verghese is a deeply moving memoir that explores friendship, medicine, addiction, and the complexities of human relationships. Combining the insight of a physician with the sensitivity of a gifted storyteller, Verghese creates a powerful narrative that is both intensely personal and universally relatable.

Set during a difficult period in the author's life, the memoir chronicles his friendship with David Smith, a talented medical student and gifted tennis player who struggles with substance addiction. What begins as a partnership on the tennis court gradually develops into a profound and challenging relationship that forces both men to confront personal vulnerabilities and difficult truths.

A central theme of the book is the nature of friendship. Through shared matches, conversations, and life experiences, Verghese examines the bonds that connect people and the responsibilities that accompany genuine human connection. The story reveals both the joys and limitations of trying to help someone facing profound personal struggles.