The Emperor's Children
Encyclopedia
The Emperor's Children is a 2006 novel
by the American
author
Claire Messud
. The author's third—and her first best-seller—it was longlisted for the 2006 Man Booker Prize
.
in the months leading up to September 11, 2001. All three are well-educated and privileged, but struggle with realizing the lofty expectations for their own personal and professional lives.
named it one of the ten best books of 2006. It won the 2007 Massachusetts Book Award for fiction.
, who also wrote the screenplay. The film will star Keira Knightley
, Eric Bana, and Richard Gere. The film is being produced by Brian Grazer
and Ron Howard
; Howard was originally slated to direct as well, but left to work on The Dilemma
.
Novel
A novel is a book of long narrative in literary prose. The genre has historical roots both in the fields of the medieval and early modern romance and in the tradition of the novella. The latter supplied the present generic term in the late 18th century....
by the American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
author
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
Claire Messud
Claire Messud
Claire Messud is an American novelist. She is best known as the author of the 2006 novel The Emperor's Children.-Early life:...
. The author's third—and her first best-seller—it was longlisted for the 2006 Man Booker Prize
Man Booker Prize
The Man Booker Prize for Fiction is a literary prize awarded each year for the best original full-length novel, written in the English language, by a citizen of the Commonwealth of Nations, Ireland, or Zimbabwe. The winner of the Man Booker Prize is generally assured of international renown and...
.
Plot
The novel focuses on the stories of three friends in their early thirties, living in ManhattanManhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
in the months leading up to September 11, 2001. All three are well-educated and privileged, but struggle with realizing the lofty expectations for their own personal and professional lives.
Reception
The Emperor's Children was widely and highly critically praised. The New York TimesThe New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
named it one of the ten best books of 2006. It won the 2007 Massachusetts Book Award for fiction.
Adaptations
It is currently being adapted into a film directed by Noah BaumbachNoah Baumbach
Noah Baumbach is an American writer, director and independent filmmaker.-Background and education:Baumbach was born in Brooklyn, New York City, the son of novelist/film critic Jonathan Baumbach and Village Voice critic Georgia Brown. He graduated from Brooklyn's Midwood High School in 1987 and ...
, who also wrote the screenplay. The film will star Keira Knightley
Keira Knightley
Keira Christina Knightley born 26 March 1985) is an English actress and model. She began acting as a child and came to international notice in 2002 after co-starring in the film Bend It Like Beckham...
, Eric Bana, and Richard Gere. The film is being produced by Brian Grazer
Brian Grazer
Brian Thomas Grazer is an Academy Award-winning American film and television producer who co-founded Imagine Entertainment in 1986 with Ron Howard. Together they have produced many acclaimed films, including Apollo 13 and A Beautiful Mind .- Career :Brian Grazer began his career as a producer...
and Ron Howard
Ron Howard
Ronald William "Ron" Howard is an American actor, director, and producer. He came to prominence as a child actor, playing Opie Taylor in the sitcom The Andy Griffith Show for eight years, and later the teenaged Richie Cunningham in the sitcom Happy Days for six years...
; Howard was originally slated to direct as well, but left to work on The Dilemma
The Dilemma
The Dilemma is a 2011 comedy-drama film starring Vince Vaughn and Kevin James. The film is directed by Ron Howard. Savvy businessman Ronny and genius engineer Nick are best friends and partners in an auto design firm. They are pursuing a project to make their firm famous. Ronny sees Nick's wife...
.
Editions
- Alfred A. KnopfAlfred A. KnopfAlfred A. Knopf, Inc. is a New York publishing house, founded by Alfred A. Knopf, Sr. in 1915. It was acquired by Random House in 1960 and is now part of the Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group at Random House. The publishing house is known for its borzoi trademark , which was designed by co-founder...
, New York, 2006. Hardcover. - Vintage BooksVintage BooksVintage Books is a publishing imprint founded in 1954 by Alfred A. Knopf. Its publishing list includes world literature, fiction, and non-fiction...
, 2007. Trade paperback.