In the book "Engleby" by Sebastian Faulks, the protagonist grapples with a sense of nostalgia and the longing for a connection to his past. This longing often reflects a desire to reach back to a time or a feeling that he believes was more genuine or fulfilling. As he navigates through his life, he searches for something that evokes a sense of purity and betterment, which he perceives as having been lost.

The quote underscores the universal yearning for a connection to a past that may not have been fully understood or experienced. It highlights the complexity of human emotions, revealing how we often idealize memories or concepts from history, hoping to recapture a sense of belonging or understanding that eludes us in the present. This theme resonates deeply in our exploration of identity and memory throughout the narrative.