Emma Donoghue: biography and career

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

Emma Donoghue is one of the most successful contemporary writers. The film "Room", based on her book, was especially brightly highlighted at the Oscars and brought the victory to the leading actress. But not only this work deserves attention.

Biography

Emma Donoghue was born in Ireland to a large family. She became the eighth child in the family and was named after the main character in Jane Austen's Emma. From early childhood, there were prerequisites for Emma to become a writer in the future. Her father, Denis Donoghue, worked as a literary critic. Thanks to her family, Emma has been imbued with a love of reading.

It took a long time for the future writer to realize that she should create her own works. Emma's childhood dream is ballet. True, at the age of eight she realized that she would be too tall to become successful on the theater stage. Then Emma, by her own admission, sat down for literary work.

For a long time, Emma Donoghue wrote only poetry. But at the age of nineteen, she finished her first novel. After a couple of yearsthe future famous writer met her literary agent, who sensed the potential in her.

Creative activity

For a long time, Emma Donoghue did not dare to leave all other professions and only earn a living by writing. She graduated from Cambridge and received her Ph. D. The main theses of her work were the provisions on friendship between men and women in the 17th century. It was there that Emma met her current lover, Christine Roulston.

In 1994, Emma Donoghue began publishing. Her books were of a very different shade, but always in the center of the plot was a strong personality. The first story was based on historical facts and inspired by Ireland. Many of Emma's works have been awarded various literary prizes. Various labels are hung on the writer - "Irish writer", "lesbian writer". Emma, in her interviews, says that she has nothing against this, because all this does not have any effect on her work and vision of future works.

Room

One of the most famous works that Emma Donoghue created is "The Room". This poignant story was released in 2010. Since then it has been translated into many languages. And in 2015, a motion picture was released, based on this literary work. Brie Larson, who starred in the film adaptation, won the Oscar for best actress of the year.

One of the main advisers during the shooting of the film was,Of course, Emma Donoghue. "Room" is a work in which she tried to control her characters. But sometimes they themselves decided what to do next.

This story is about a young woman named Joy. She was kidnapped seven years ago. And all this time she spent in a shed specially equipped for the victim on the outskirts of her tormentor's plot. Five years ago, she gave birth to a son, Jack.

The boy never left the room. The only way for him to find out what is happening in the world is through television and books. But the older he gets, the weaker his belief that there is at least something beyond the walls of the room, except for the endless open space. And then Joey decides it's time to escape from prison and show his Jack the world. But only her kidnapper is so cruel and cunning that it is almost impossible to carry out the plan.

Fallen Woman

Emma Donoghue often turned to history and transferred her characters to other centuries. The main character of the novel "The Fallen Woman" Mary was no exception.

Even as practically a child, Mary realizes that she cannot live like her parents and other people around her. She wanted to be rich, able to afford any whim. And her dream to make life a little more colorful led Mary to the fact that she went into prostitution. But even there the girl did not last long.

She found another job and began to help the seamstress in her difficult craft. True, honest labor did not bring such income. Because Mary returned to the old profession. But that's just what it will lead toher vanity and lust for money?

Emma Donoghue is one of the most celebrated and talented contemporary writers. Her such diverse writings are about strong women, some of which are inspiring, while others are teaching. However, all works arouse the keenest interest of readers.