Ian
McEwan
-Atonement-
Life
He is one of Britain's most highly regarded writers
He was born in 20° century in England
He spent his childhood in East Asia, Germany and North
Africa
he retourned to England
He attended the University of Sussex and obtained a
degree in English literature, later riceving a master
McEwan's first work was a collection of short stories
called ‘’First Love, Last Rites’’ (1975) but he obteined a
lot of success with the novel ‘’The Cement Garden’’
(1978)
Life
During his life he won many prizes, national and
international
He also written plays for television and screenplays for
the cinema
2001 = Atonement
2006 = accused of plagiarism
Now he lives in London
Commentary
 McEwan was dubbed by many critics ‘Ian Macabre’ because
in his works he focused on problematic childhoods, disjointed
family life, sex, perversion and death
 But he said that his first works were a reaction against other
writers of the time
 In his recent works there is a change in tone and atmosphere but
the author has retained many elements and themes
 McEwan's prose still focuses heavily on gothic predilections and
shocking subject material.
 He has a great technical skill with unusual characterizations and
satiric wit
Atonement
 Published in 2001
 It is one of McEwan’s best works
 Time Magazine
named it in its list
 It explores the depths of human
nature
the protagonist is represented
in a moment of personal crisis
It set in England during the
Second World War
Language
stylish
rich, elegant and
Plot
The novel tells the story of Briony Tallis
(13 years old) who lives at her family's
country estate with her older sister Cecilia,
and their cousins. One day, Briony sees a moment of
sexual tension between Cecilia and Robbie Turner (son of the housekeeper).
She doesn’t understand what she saw, so she becomes the reason why
Robbie is convicted of a crime that occurred on her family’s house. After two
years of prison, Robbie is forced to join in the army.
Years later, during the war Briony tries to atone for her guilt by working as a
nurse. She goes to Cecilia’s house to excuse with her, but both Robbie and
Cecilia are too angry to forgive her. Then Robbie dies of septicemia and
Cecilia dies because there was an explosion in Balham Underground Station.
The last part is written by Briony’s prospective. At the age of 77 she became
a successful novelist and she is dying of vascular dementia. She reveals that
in her novel Cecilia and Robbie live their love. Briony decides to give them
their happiness because when they were alive they could not have the time
together.
Characters
 Briony Tallis = the protagonist
 Cecilia Tallis = The middle child in the Tallis family, she has fallen in love
with her friend, Robbie Turner.
 Robbie Turner = the son of the housekeeper, he lives on the grounds of
the Tallis home. He grows up with Leon, Briony and Cecilia (sons of the
owner of the house), so knows the family well. He attended the University
of Cambridge with Cecilia, and when he they come home, fall in love.
 Leon Tallis = The eldest child in the Tallis family, Leon returns home to
visit with his friend, Paul Marshall
 Paul Marshall = A friend of Leon's, whom Briony accuses of raping
Lola and, some years later, marries her (Lola)
 Emily Tallis = Emily is the mother of Briony, Cecilia, and Leon.
She is ill in bed because suffering from severe migraines.
Protagonist
 Briony Tallis is a girl of 13 years at the
beginning of the novel
 During the novel we can see her
transformation from child to woman
 She has great ambitions and talent as a
writer but in particular she has unbridled
imagination.
 She becomes a
witness to the
relationship
between the two
lovers, her sister
Cecilia and Robbie
 She takes part in
sending Robbie
Turner to jail
 She is part narrator
and part character
Main Themes
 Guilt, remorse and the power of imagination
Expiation (the title of the novel)
Briony tries to atone for her guilt in different ways
 the plot is entirely centered on relationships,
feelings and human psicology.
 War = represented by McEwan as something
monstrous and inhuman , the bearer of death.
 Death = Briony and Robbie encounters the deaths of
many soldiers: Briony while she is working in the
hospital and Robbie when he is participating in the
retreat
 Love = The relationship between Cecilia and
Robbie is portrayed throughout the book as a
true love.
Film
 It is a British romantic drama war
film
 Produced in 2007, directed by Joe
Wright
 It won an Oscar for the best original
score
 Protagonists:
Keira Knightley
James McAvoy
Saoirse Ronan
Cecilia Tallis
Robbie Turner
Briony Tallis
 It has received:
.positive reviews by many movie
critics
.numerous awards and nominations