Then came his
first novel, The Cement Garden, the story
of four orphaned children living alone after the death of
both parents. They take extreme measures to avoid being taken
into care, and an incestuous relationship develops between
the two eldest children as they try to emulate their parents
roles. This novel was followed by The Comfort of Strangers,
which is set in Venice and is a tale of fantasy, violence,
and obsession.
Ian McEwan’s next novel, The Child in Time,
was several years coming and marks a new confidence in his
writing. The story centres around the devastating effect of
the loss of child through abduction. There follows several
wonderful novels including Atonement, which
tells the story of Briony, a young girl and aspiring writer,
and the consequences of a discovery she makes involving her
elder sister Cecilia and their housekeeper’s son Robbie Turner.
Her misinterpretation of this discovery and her resultant
scheming drastically change the lives of all three forever.
This novel was adapted for the screen by Christopher Hampton,
and the very successful film released in 2007, receiving much
critical acclaim. Keira Knightly plays Cecilia, James McEvoy
Robbie, and Romola Garai Briony.
In addition to novels Ian McEwan has written
plays for television and film screenplays. These include an
adaptation of his own novel, The Innocent (1993). Further
film adaptations of his own novels include First Love, Last
Rites (1997), The Cement Garden (1993), The Comfort of Strangers
(1991), and of course Atonement (2007) mentioned above.
As if that isn’t enough Ian McEwan also wrote the libretto
to Michael Berkeley’s music for the oratorio Or Shall We Die?,
and is currently writing the libretto to For You, a new opera
about an ageing conductor/composer, again with music by Michael
Berkeley.
Bibliography:
Short Stories:
First Love, Last Rites, 1975, published by Cape
In Between the Sheets, 1978, published by Cape
Novels:
The Cement Garden, 1978, published by Cape
The Comfort of Strangers, 1981, published by Cape
The Child in Time, 1987, published by Cape
The Innocent, 1990, published by Cape
Black Dogs, 1992, published by Cape
Enduring Love, 1997, published by Cape
Amsterdam, 1998, published by Cape
Atonement, 2001, published by Cape
Saturday, 2005, published by Cape
On Chesil Beach, 2007, published by Cape
For You: The Libretto, 2008, publisher Vintage
Children’s Books:
The Daydreamer, 1994, published by Cape
Prizes and Awards:
1976 Somerset Maugham Award for First Love, Last Rites
1981 Booker Prize for Fiction (shortlist) for The Comfort
of Strangers
1987 Whitbread Novel Award for The Child in Time
1993 Prix Fémina Etranger (France) for The Child in Time
1997 James Tait Black Memorial Prize (for fiction) (shortlist)
for Enduring Love
1998 Booker Prize for Fiction for Amsterdam
1999 Shakespeare Prize (Germany)
2000 CBE
2001 Booker Prize for Fiction (shortlist) for Atonement
2001 James Tait Black Memorial Prize (for fiction) (shortlist)
for Atonement
2001 Whitbread Novel Award (shortlist) for Atonement
2002 Los Angeles Times Book Prize (Fiction) (shortlist) for
Atonement
2002 WH Smith Award for Fiction (shortlist) for Atonement
2002 WH Smith Literary Award for Atonement
2003 National Book Critics' Circle Fiction Award (USA) for
Atonement
2005 Man Booker International Prize (shortlist)
2006 James Tait Black Memorial Prize (for fiction) for Saturday
2007 Man Booker International Prize (shortlist)
2007 Man Booker Prize for Fiction (shortlist) for On Chesil
Beach
2008 British Book Awards Author of the Year for On Chesil
Beach
2008 British Book Awards Book of the Year Award for On Chesil
Beach
2008 Good Housekeeping Book Award (best author) for On Chesil
Beach
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