Ian McEwan: creativity, biography. Roman "Atonement"

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

Ian McEwan is one of the representatives of modern British prose. For the novel "Amsterdam" this author was awarded the prestigious Booker Prize. However, among the works that Ian McEwan wrote, "Atonement" occupies a special position. This novel not only differs from others in style and content, but also touches on deep psychological problems. The plot of the book covers a huge time period. And although Ian McEwan was not awarded a single literary prize for the creation of this work, it received immense popularity among readers and was filmed.

Author biography

Ian McEwen, the son of a Scottish officer, was born in 1948. The early years of the writer are associated with constant moving. He was born in one of the inconspicuous military camps, spent several years in East Asia, North Africa, then Germany. The future writer turned twelve when his parents finally settled in England.

In 1971, Ian McEwan received his master's degree. However, his interest in modern English and American prose appeared much earlier. At the University of East Anglia, McEwan became one of the few students in a creative writing course taught by the outstanding classics of the 20th century, M. Bradbury and E. Wilson.

Four years after receiving his master's degree, Ian McEwan published his first collection. In it, among others, was a story written in his student years. These works brought the young writer the recognition of critics and writers.

Between the Knocked Down Sheets

Less than two years after the first success in the literary field, McEwan managed to publish a second collection of short stories. But after the publication of "Between the Knocked Down Sheets" - namely, that was the name of the new book by the British author - a novel was published that caused a scandal. The writer was accused of plagiarism. Criticism pointed to the similarity of McEwan's works with the work of Julian Gloag. However, at the official level, critics failed to accuse the writer of using someone else's creative work.

In 1980, a new scandal erupted in British literary circles. Ian McEwan again became its center

Books

This time the play "Stereometry" became the reason for numerous critical and aggressive articles. In this dramatic work, McEwan told the life story of a man who kept the male sexual organ for many years. And in order to keep the amputated member in proper form, the hero of the play placed it inspecial chemical solution. The central British TV channel refused to stage the scandalous work. However, this fact did not have a negative impact on the writer's popularity.

For ten years, McEwan wrote mostly screenplays for film and television. There was also prose. Among the works created by the writer in the eighties, there are the following:

• "The Plowman's Lunch";
• "Imitation";
• "Last day of summer";
• Comfort Strangers.

Ashore

The book (Ian McEwan devoted it to current social problems) is written in a unique style. The novel lacks unnecessary characters that authors usually introduce to create backgrounds. The action revolves around two heroes.

"On the Shore" is a novel dedicated to the story of two people whose destinies were destroyed. However, this destruction is barely perceptible, and rather resembles an imaginary happiness. Only from the height of lived years does a person acquire the ability to evaluate his actions, to realize the errors that guided him in his actions for many years.

The irreversibility of time is one of the main themes in McEwan's novels. After reading one of the later works of this author, the reader begins to think about what is important in life and what is secondary. The hero of the novel "On the Shore" loses his happiness solely under the influence of prejudices, which fade into the background many years later. And, alas, too late.

In the 21st, complex epic works came to the fore in the writer's work. From the publication of one ofof his deepest novels, Ian McEwan began a new period in his writing journey.

Atonement

The book was published in 2001. A number of important issues that modern authors prefer to avoid were covered in the novel Atonement from a new unusual perspective. This is a misunderstanding between generations, and the monstrous consequences of wars, and many social problems familiar to any society. But the main theme in McEwan's book is retribution. Paying for a mistake that could cost a life and which may never be redeemed.

In the literary world, McEwan is a recognized master of sentimental prose. He won the Booker Prize only once. However, his track record contains other, albeit less prestigious, awards. The novels of the British writer have inspired filmmakers more than once. Several films have been made based on his works. And the picture "Atonement", unlike the original source, received many awards. At the annual Oscars, the adaptation of Ian McEwan's work was presented in seven categories.