Liesl Character Analysis in A Little Life

Liesl was Harold’s first wife. She’s a doctor. Harold recalls the horrific year they endured together as they watched their young son, Jacob, suffer and die from a rare neurodegenerative disease. Their grief eventually destroyed their marriage beyond repair. Though they are on friendly terms and genuinely want the best for each other, it’s too painful for them to remain in touch on a regular basis.

Liesl Character Timeline in A Little Life

The timeline below shows where the character Liesl appears in A Little Life. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

Harold’s first wife, Liesl, was a composed and practical woman. Harold recalls one of their first dates, when they... (full context)

Friendship and Human Connection Theme Icon

...first-person perspective. He describes the onset of Jacob’s illness. When Jacob is four, Harold and Liesl notice that something is wrong. It’s October, and Jacob has started to tire easily. One... (full context)

They return home once Jacob is stable, and Liesl contacts Jacob’s pediatrician—a friend from med school—to set up appointments with the best specialists. Jacob... (full context)

...he hates how self-absorbed and petty they are. By September, the doctor tells Harold and Liesl that Jacob will die soon. Jacob’s limbs have grown floppy from disuse. Harold thinks he’s... (full context)

...“better”—and it’s impossible to imagine “that they might be worse.” When Jacob first became sick, Liesl immediately made plans for how they could give Jacob the best life possible in light... (full context)

...dies—less than a year after that first seizure. A year after Jacob’s death, Harold and Liesl discuss whether they should have another child, but they fight a lot. Eventually, their grief... (full context)

Harold loves Julia. She’s a scientist, just like Liesl. But what he had with Liesl was “deeper” and “more profound” because they’d created a... (full context)