Grief Is the Thing with Feathers explained

Grief Is the Thing with Feathers
Author:Max Porter
Country:United Kingdom
Language:English
Publisher:Faber and Faber
Pub Date:2015
Awards:Dylan Thomas Prize
Isbn:9780571323760
Followed By:Lanny

Grief Is the Thing with Feathers is the debut book by Max Porter, a novella about grief, published in 2015.[1] [2] [3]

Details

Grief Is the Thing with Feathers is a "book about death and its grief-stricken consolations – love and art" through the story "of a grieving writer and father of two young boys, who is coming to terms with the death of his wife while writing a book about Ted Hughes". It uses text, dialogue and poetry.[4] The book is narrated from rapidly alternating perspectives: the Dad, the Boys, and Crow—a human-sized bird that can speak, "equal parts babysitter, philosopher and therapist" to the family.[5] [6]

The title refers to a poem by Emily Dickinson, ""Hope" is the thing with feathers".[7] Crow is the Crow from Ted Hughes' 1970 poetry book.[8]

Awards

YearAwardCategoryResultRef
2015Guardian First Book Award—[9]
Goldsmiths Prize—[10] [11] [12]
2016Books Are My Bag Readers' AwardFiction[13] [14]
Dylan Thomas Prize—[15] [16]
Sunday Times Young Writer of the Year Award—[17]
2017Europese Literatuurprijs—[18]

Adaptions

Grief Is the Thing with Feathers was adapted into a play of the same name, directed by Enda Walsh and starring Cillian Murphy.[19]

In 2024, a film adaptation starring Benedict Cumberbatch, titled The Thing with Feathers, began production. Principal photography was underway by early 2024.[20] [21]

Notes and References

  1. News: Kitamura . Katie . 2016-07-01 . Their Grief Counselor Is a Crow. It's Fiction. . en-US . The New York Times . 2023-11-03 . 0362-4331.
  2. Web site: Hulbert . Ann . 2016-05-17 . Exploring the Facets of Grief . 2023-11-03 . The Atlantic . en.
  3. News: Wade . Francesca . 2015-09-22 . Grief Is the Thing with Feathers by Max Porter, review: 'deeply comic, hopelessly sad' . en-GB . The Telegraph . 2023-11-03 . 0307-1235.
  4. News: Gunn . Kirsty . 2015-09-18 . Grief Is the Thing with Feathers by Max Porter review – words take flight . en-GB . The Guardian . 2023-11-03 . 0261-3077.
  5. Web site: Devers . A. N. . 2016-06-03 . Review: Max Porter's debut 'Grief Is the Thing With Feathers' soars with complexity . 2023-11-03 . Los Angeles Times . en-US.
  6. News: East . Ben . 2016-09-11 . Grief Is the Thing With Feathers review – a fable of magic and mourning . en-GB . The Observer . 2023-11-03 . 0029-7712.
  7. Web site: 2015-09-13 . Grief Is the Thing with Feathers, by Max Porter - book review: In . 2023-11-03 . The Independent . en.
  8. Web site: 2016-06-07 . Ted Hughes' 'Crow' provides backbone for 'Grief Is the Thing With Feathers' . 2023-11-03 . Chicago Tribune.
  9. News: Lea . Richard . 2015-11-25 . Guardian first book award 2015 goes to poet Andrew McMillan . 2024-08-10 . The Guardian . en-GB . 0261-3077.
  10. Web site: Goldsmiths Prize 2015 Shortlist . 10 August 2024 . Goldsmiths Prize.
  11. Web site: 2015-10-01 . The Goldsmiths Prize 2015 shortlist . 2023-11-04 . New Statesman . en-US.
  12. News: Armitstead . Claire . 2015-10-01 . Goldsmiths book prize shortlist: Lennon, Jesus and life at the edges . 2023-11-04 . The Guardian . en-GB . 0261-3077.
  13. Web site: Books Are My Bag Readers' Award 2016 . 10 August 2024 . Books Are My Bag.
  14. Web site: Books Are My Bag Reading Awards . 2019-06-22 . National Book Tokens . en.
  15. Web site: Dylan Thomas Prize 2016 Winner . 10 August 2024 . Dylan Thomas Prize.
  16. News: Flood . Alison . 2016-05-14 . Dylan Thomas award goes to Max Porter's 'extraordinary feat' . 2023-11-03 . The Guardian . en-GB . 0261-3077.
  17. Web site: Sunday Times Young Writer of the Year Award 2016 Winner . 10 August 2024 . The Times.
  18. Web site: Europese Literatuurprijs 2017 Winner . 10 August 2024 . Europese Literatuurprijs.
  19. Web site: Lukowski . Andrzej . 2019-03-29 . ‘Grief Is the Thing with Feathers' review . 2023-11-03 . Time Out London . en-GB.
  20. Web site: Yossman . K.J. . November 16, 2023 . Benedict Cumberbatch Says Participating in His ‘Letters Live’ Stage Show Is ‘An Immediate Shot in the Arm for a Performer’ . 11 January 2024 . Variety.
  21. Web site: 24 February 2024 . Benedict Cumberbatch transforms into a grieving father as he films sombre scenes with two child actors for his new role in The Thing With Feathers . 24 April 2024 . whatsnew2day.

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