Skip to content
NorthFactsFacts first, Canada's reference desk
Entertainment

A Little Life

What is a little life?

· James MacDonald

Key facts

Title A Little Life[1]
Author Hanya Yanagihara[1]
Publication year 2015[1]
Central character Jude St. Francis[1]
Setting New York[1]

A Little Life is a 2015 novel by Hanya Yanagihara about four men whose friendship begins in college and continues into later life, centring on Jude St. Francis and his trauma.

Context

A Little Life is a 2015 novel by Hanya Yanagihara about four men whose friendship begins in college and continues into later life, with the story centring on Jude St. Francis and his trauma [1]. The title is interpreted in various ways; one source describes it as referring to 'the little bits of the little lives' [1], while another mentions a phrase within the book about showing 'a little life' [1]. The novel is set in New York [1].

Documented claims

  • The novel follows four men whose friendship begins in college and continues into later life. [1]
  • The story centres on Jude St. Francis and his traumatic childhood. [1]
  • The title refers to 'the little bits of the little lives'. [1]

Questions and answers

What is the A Little Life book about?

It follows four men whose friendship begins in college and continues into later life, centring on Jude St. Francis and his trauma [1].

Why is the title 'A Little Life'?

The title is interpreted as referring to 'the little bits of the little lives' [1], and in some commentary to a phrase used within the book [1].

Sources

  1. Significance of Little life — wisdomlib.org (retrieved August 3, 2026)

Sources last checked August 3, 2026. · More in Entertainment