Where to Start Reading Ian McEwan
Winner of the 1998 Booker Prize, the Somerset Maugham award, the Whitbread Novel of the Year award and the 2011 Jerusalem Prize, Ian McEwan is undoubtedly one of the most celebrated of contemporary writers.
His substantial body of work has earned him worldwide acclaim and firmly cemented his position as one of today’s best-loved novelists. If you’re yet to discover him, good news: we’ve taken a deep dive into his publishing to bring you the essential Ian McEwan reading list.
What has Ian McEwan written?
Beloved British writer Ian McEwan has written 17 novels over the last five decades, including numerous prize-nominated and -winning works of literary fiction. He is also the author of short story collections, plays and novellas and has even written works of children’s fiction. Several of his works have been adapted for TV and cinema, including On Chesil Beach, Enduring Love and – most famously – Atonement. But more on that below…
What is Ian McEwan’s most famous book?
What was Ian McEwan’s first book?
What is Ian McEwan’s best book?
More must-read books by Ian McEwan
Frequently asked questions
Which Ian McEwan book won the Booker Prize?
Amsterdam won the Booker Prize in 1998. McEwan has also been shortlisted for the Booker Prize for The Comfort of Strangers (1981), Black Dogs (1992), Atonement (2001) and On Chesil Beach (2007).
Which Ian McEwan novel was adapted into an Oscar-winning film?
Atonement (2001) was adapted into a film starring Keira Knightley, James McAvoy and Saoirse Ronan. It was nominated for eight Academy Awards in 2008, including Best Picture, Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Supporting Actress. It won the award for Best Original Score.
Why did Ian McEwan write Atonement?
Ian McEwan was inspired to begin writing Atonement in 1997 after reflecting on the tragedies that had shaped the 20th century, in particular World War 2 and the Holocaust. On holiday with his sons, he began making notes about a character that had come into his mind: a young woman in a country house who spots a gardener outside through the window and wants to get to know him (and doesn’t at the same time). From these beginnings, McEwan crafted a story taking in pre-war Britain, the Second World War and – through the novel’s now famous twist – the modern era.
To understand more about how and why Ian McEwan wrote Atonement, read this fascinating interview with the author and his publisher on the book and how it became one of the most popular novels of the early 21st century.