Ian McEwan -Atonement-

 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 Life

 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 Commentary

 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 rich, elegant and stylish Atonement

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.

 Briony Tallis  Briony Tallis = the protagonist  Cecilia Tallis  Cecilia Tallis = The middle child in the Tallis family, she has fallen in love with her friend, Robbie Turner.  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  Leon Tallis = The eldest child in the Tallis family, Leon returns home to visit with his friend, Paul Marshall  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 Tallis = Emily is the mother of Briony, Cecilia, and Leon. She is ill in bed because suffering from severe migraines. Characters

 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. Protagonist  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.

 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 Cecilia Tallis James McAvoy Robbie Turner Saoirse Ronan Briony Tallis  It has received:. positive reviews by many movie critics. numerous awards and nominations Film