Come and chat to Ian McEwan about his exceptional career and acclaimed novels, including his latest, The Children Act on MONDAY 1 JUNE, 9-10pm

[TillyMumsnetBookClub]

Our May author Ian McEwan is one of Britain's most outstanding, successful and acclaimed novelists, winning multiple awards over his long career. His subtle, unshowy and precise style is perfectly suited to his meticulously researched subjects - from brain surgery in Saturday to MI5 in Sweet Tooth.

In his pacy, gripping new novel, The Children Act, McEwan deftly investigates the legal system through his protagonist Fiona Maye, a High Court judge. When her husband Jack asks for her permission to have an affair, Fiona buries herself in her work in the family courts as a counterbalance to her crumbling personal life. But when an emergency case involving a young Jehovah's Witness boy comes up, Fiona's emotional involvement with him leads to disturbance but also self-knowledge, across both her public and private life.

You can find out more on our book of the month page, and find information covering McEwan's stellar career on his website.

Vintage have 50 copies of THE CHILDREN ACT to give to Mumsnetters: to claim your copy please go to the book of the month page. If you're not lucky enough to bag one of those, you can always get a Kindle version here or paperback here.

We are absolutely thrilled and honoured that Ian will be joining us on Monday 1st June, 9-10pm to discuss THE CHILDREN ACT, his writing life, his many award-winning novels plus much more. Please feel free to discuss the book here throughout the month and then come and meet Ian on the night, ask him a question about any of his novels or simply tell him what you thought of his latest book. Look forward to seeing you on the 1st.

@chocandchickpeas

Hi Ian,

You highlight some cases that point out ways in which the justice system is unfair ie with Mark Berner, is this something that interests you?

Were there any real life cases or legal practices that surprised you during your research?

Well, the Sally Clarke case was a terrible miscarriage of justice, which was why I included it. Likewise, a young man I know was sent to prison for two and a half years for offences with which he was not even charged - this on the basis of so-called 'joint enterprise'. This measure surely needs reform.

My general impression is that the legal system is deeply human - good and bad by turns. Its greatest failure lies with politicians; that is, justice needs to be accessible to all. Legal Aid should be a right, not a luxury.

@TheFlyingFauxPas

Hi there Mr McEwan. I love your books but they do leave me a little disturbed after reading. I'm thinking that's a good thing. One slight question though which has always bothered me. We read Atonement for an English course at college which was a fabulous choice in my opinion ;-) However, we argued and argued but never seemed to convince ourselves an answer. Only you can tell us I'm thinking. Did Paul Marshall rape Lola? I mean to say. We know it was him and Lola but we could never decide if she was a willing participant or not, what with her bruised arms and scratches from earlier (was that him too?) but then the wedding...

I am afraid I am one of those readers who likes everything tied up with a neat bow at the end, conveniently handed all the answers to questions, which is why your books, yes, leave me disturbed but in a good way I guess. Atonement, with Briony as narrator, I loved, but it really made my head hurt trying to get it, particularly as, can we trust a word Briony said? Then of course. It was all dreamed up by you. Can we trust you?

Love you xxx

Never trust a novelist. Yes, Marshall rapes Lola. A case of the abused falling for her abuser. Their marriage seals the secret - and protects him. I'm afraid neat bows aren't much on offer with this novel.

That is one of the most beguiling descriptions of a childhood book we've ever had. I have immediately ordered The Gauntlet for my history-mad 8 year old.

On which subject (tangentially), I'd like to know if you feel driven to write about contemporary life, and specifically examine current issues? I think of you as a very contemporary writer (Atonement being the main exception) and I wondered if you felt it was a writer's duty to focus on the here and now?

@TooTypical

Hello Ian McEwan. Do you feel that literary novelists are at risk of making art too important? Fiona's love of making music is beautifully conveyed in 'The Children Act.' But it seems to be implied that the child/young man she becomes (over) involved with is only interesting because he too is interested in high culture. The novel can be seen as a criticism of religion - but perhaps you could be seen as wanting to put art on a pedestal in its stead....

I can see that art must be important for a writer, but does that mean it also has to be important for her/his characters?

I take your point. Many people live without JS Bach or Jane Austen or Pissarro and are sensitive, moral people. But art in its most general sense - all music, all drama including tv, all stories - are the lifeblood of our culture. Down by the Salley Gardens is a lovely, simple, traditional Irish tune, accessible to all. And played inexpertly on a scratchy violin by a boy determined to die - well, nothing very high about that.

Yes, I should have said, it is a privilege to be here as part of this discussion. Thank you.

@sarahsusannah

Hello Ian - I really enjoyed The Children Act and I'm particularly intrigued by your portrayal of Fiona. I noticed that you showed her dealing with stress in her personal life by playing Bach on the piano, and in an earlier work (The Imitation Game, I think) I remember that you had a character trying to master a Mozart piano sonata. Do you listen to or play music when you're working, and if so, does it have an effect or influence on your work? Thanks!

I'm touched that you remember The Imitation Game. It was the fantasia, K375.

I like music too much to be able to have it as background. But I love listening. One of my favourite places is Wigmore Hall, in London. I wrote a song in celebration of it, and I'm proud to say it was broadcast last night on Radio Three in a lovely setting by Michael Berkeley.

Ian, many of the characters of your novels stay with me from the day I read them.

Which characters from other writers' novels have stayed with you?

And in your own novels, which characters are more real than others? Do you find the most recently written are the most real or are there others that will always be with you? The characters in The Child in Time, in particular, will always stay with me.

@funnyperson

Hello I have read this book and also 'Saturday' and the other books, I think Mr Mc Ewan writes really well and the subjects are thought provoking and topical. A friend thinks the books are rather 'dark' and on reflection, I think this is true: for example 'the Children Act' could have had another ending.

Also, while I cannot speak for the lawyer in 'the Children Act' I felt that the neurosurgeon's life in 'Saturday' was a bit of a Hollywood caricature, living up to a popular notion that consultants are somehow more wealthy than the rest of the universe, which simply isn't true anymore.

So, why are your books so dark Mr McEwan?

Neurosurgeons earn way above the average wage - and for good reason. As for dark - certainly true of my very early work. And from The Child in Time onwards, like most novelists, I'm interested in the difficulties and conflicts and absurdities in life. For pure joy, I would turn, as a reader, to lyric poetry, to celebrations of the moment. Novels trace lives through time - and none of us is capable of remaining perpetually joyful. Struggle, misunderstanding, violence - all must live alongside love, kindness, ecstasy etc.

@paulasmith

Good evening. Thank you to Mumsnet for sending me 'The Children Act' and to you Ian for writing it. Unfortunately, I have not quite finished it yet. So far I am enjoying the book. I find the main character very interesting but not someone that I can relate to easily. I do not see this as a negative thing as the joy of fiction is seeing the world from another perspective. I am also enjoying getting an insight into the courts system which I have never experienced and know very little about. I have been reading through the thread and am most intrigued by some of the questions being asked. I will be interested to read your answer to a question posed earlier: was there one case in particular that inspired you to write this book? I'd also like to know if there was a particular woman that inspired you also for the main character?

Thanks.

Yes, there is one case - see the earlier threads. As for the main character - as usually happens when I start a novel, I had to let emerge from cumulative sentences. Rather like seeing someone walking towards you slowly through a mist.

@halfaglassofouzodestructo

I really enjoyed my copy of The Children's Act and despite having a newborn managed to read it all in a few days! It reminded me in atmosphere of Saturday which is one of my favourite of your books, though that may also be related to the London setting. I really enjoy the precision in your writing. My question is, when you are writing about a subject which requires significant amounts, of research, how do you find a balance between using that research in the novel without the novel becoming too dry? How do you balance research with the rest of the creative process?

There comes a time with research when I find it best to half-forget it. Perhaps this is one reason why it's worth knowing more than you will actually need. You can then move around a subject with greater ease, rather than have you nose to the ground of facts

Really interesting reading your replies to all the questions. 'The Children Act' touches upon some deep themes - dilemmas encountered negotiating personal versus public duty, the disparities between law and religion; the question of whether one can truly have a full & blessed personal / family life in addition to a mega-successful career, etc.

However, it's interesting that the prominent underlying theme, that of lovers estranged, is one that seen in many of your other books. Usually young lovers (i.e. in “Chesil Beach”, “Atonement”, etc.), the difference here is a couple in their late 50’s/early 60’s. However, what they seem to share is emotional upheaval in the form of potentially inappropriate outside relationships.

QUESTION:- Please do not answer if it's too intrusive a question, but how much of your personal experiences come through in your writing ?

@FiveGoMadInDorset

Good evening and thank you for coming on Mumsnet.

Every work day I am lucky enough to see the entire stretch of Chesil Beach as I leave work.

Which do you find the most challenging to write, novels set in one day or spread over time.

Can I also say that I find the ending of Atonement very open ended, did you intend it to be that way?

There's not much difference - both are challenging. A novel set in a day can always spread itself through remembered or anticipated time, so the restriction is never quite what it seems.

@frogletsmum

Hello and thank you to Mumsnet and Ian McEwan for this book which I very much enjoyed.

From the opening I was outraged on Fiona's behalf because of her husband's selfish behaviour, and though I found the legal issues of the book fascinating, I felt I wanted more about this crisis in her personal life. So my question for Ian is, when you are planning a new novel, is it the situation or the main character which comes to you first? And which do you most challenging or interesting to write about, professional dilemmas or emotional ones?
Thanks!

I'm flattered that you were outraged by these ghosts!
I can never really disentangle a character from her situation - they arrive, bit by bit, as one element.
Professional dilemmas are emotional - though I know what you mean. I think the novel as a form is very good at presenting and analysing emotional conflicts, storm, revelations etc. I find that the key to unfolding an emotional moment is to get the visual details right. If the reader can 'see' the scene, the emotional content can be laid out more easily.

Thank you so much for your reply and for visiting Mumsnet :) I'm afraid I haven't read The Children's Act yet but having read the discussion on here I'll be getting it. Here let me pass you some You must be hungry all this chatting.

Thanks for answering my questions. Was interested to see your answer to the Paul Marshall question too - I'd always assumed that was intended to be consensual.

Hi Ian,
Thank you so much for writing such a beautifully moving story. I had tears in my eyes as I finished it, although I did guess towards the end that Adam would die. My question to you though is why on earth did you let Fiona kiss him? I do not understand why she would act this way. Was it just a moment of madness? My view was that Fiona thought of him as the Son she never had , but this doesn't fit with "the kiss!".
Also, do you think Adam refuses treatment later to punish Fiona? Or because he wanted to die as a martyr to his religion/faith?
Finally can I ask why you chose for us not to hear from Adam's parents perspectives? I would have been really interested to know how his mother in particular was feeling, especially in the moments before Fiona gave her verdict.
Sorry for asking a lot of questions! I really did enjoy this novel and it is probably my favourite of yours after Enduring Love, which I think has a similar theme to this one of obsession .
Thanks again.

@CraftyTiger

Thanks for my copy of the book, I thoroughly enjoyed it. Ian, you are one of my favourite novelists, I especially enjoyed Enduring Love, Atonement and Saturday. (And my son is not called Theo because I was reading 'Saturday' at the time - well maybe!)

I loved the contrast between Fiona being highly organised and precise in her work yet her personal life was more chaotic.
The court cases were all interesting too, was the Jehovah Witness case always going to be the main focus or did it come to the forefront as you wrote?

Amazing about Theo. Give him my regards.
As soon as Sir Alan Ward told me the story of a JW case he had presided over, I knew that this would be the basis of a short novel. About three years later I got round to writing it. You are right about the distinction between the professional and private life - something we all have to deal with.

Such an interesting discussion - thank you so much for coming on here.

I also want to get The Gauntlet for my 8 yr old son after reading Ian's (and Tilly's) comments on it! Perfect for my knight made little boy, so thank you both!

Thank you so much for your reply. One more question, partly arising from The Children Act: do you feel that there is any subject which is unsuitable for a novel, or can fiction cast a light on even the darkest topics?

@Virginiaplain1

Dear Ian McEwan I was introduced to your work back in the late seventies when I was at university and I have read every book you have written since then and enjoyed them all - though some more than others. I'm intrigued to know whether or not the character of Thomas Haley in 'Sweet Tooth' is based on yourself - there seem to be several parallels!

I didn't give him my character, but I did lend him some of my circumstances of long ago - Sussex etc. I even lent him some of my short stories from the early 70s.
Right up to publication the character was called Tom Healy. It was a real shock to discover just before the novel was about to be printed that there actually was a teacher at Sussex University with that name, with the same interests in renaissance literature. We hastily changed the name to Haley. I then met Tom Healy - he gave an oration for an award I was receiving at the university. When I told him the story, he expressed regret that I had changed the name.

Good evening, Mr McEwan. I love your writing, beautiful and distinctive. Do you still have to work on it or does it come 'easy' by now, once you've worked out the characters and the plot?

Who would you say are ones to watch & follow amongst new writers?

I loved The Children's Act. I was surprised by the ending as I didn't expect Fiona to be so unguarded.

whatwoulddexterdo, I was going to ask the same thing - I'm really interested in Fiona's motivation for the kiss as I couldn't see it coming at ALL.
(fingers crossed there's time to get the answer to this one)

@barricade

Many thanks to Mumsnet / Vintage Books for a copy of 'The Children Act' by Ian McEwan. After the excellent 'Atonement, which I first saw the film version of, I must admit, I opened 'The Children Act' with real anticipation. Considering this new book was totally different to 'Atonement', I was curious to see the way the story was executed. What I've found is a precisely written, well-crafted tale. The prose exacting, and the author does well in incorporating authentic legal vernacular.

I'd like to ask Ian a couple of general questions to begin with, if I may ......

QUESTION ONE:- Do you have a personal favourite out of the books you've had published?

QUESTION TWO:- I read somewhere that the rights to one of your other books, 'Sweet Tooth', have been snapped up by Working Film Titles, the company responsible for bringing 'Atonement' to the big screen. Is that correct, and, if so, are there any updates relating to that? Additionally, is there any other of your books being optioned for film or television?

No favourites, I'm afraid
Yes, WT are 'developing' Sweet Tooth. Lucinda Coxon has delivered a draft and the production company are very happy about it.

Very interesting to hear others, and your perspective on Fiona. I can see how someone faced daily with very traumatic situations must have to engage a 'front' especially as there seems to be so much historical evidence and the accolade of perhaps making history which others will refer to in the future to be considered. I suppose I didn't find much humour in Fiona as a character, but with that type of job there is not much to find funny. I feel you gave a really good sense of the intensity of her career choice from when she was a teenager and left her brief dalliance with being a 'wild child' behind her.