Michel Faber is one of the world’s most popular literary novelists. His breakout bestselling historical novel The Crimson Petal and the White sold over a million copies, and his eerie debut, Under the Skin, was released as a film starring Scarlett Johansson last year. The Melbourne-bred writer says his sixth novel, The Book of Strange New Things, his ‘most unusual’, will also be his last.
Set in the 21st century, the action takes place on an alien planet, where a minister brings religion to its inhabitants. Back on an Earth beset by climate-change caused chaos, his beloved, achingly missed wife keeps him up to date with the destruction of his home planet. The New York Times says this sad and beautiful book ‘squeezes its genre ingredients to yield a meditation on suffering, love and the origins of religious faith’.
Faber is one of those rare beasts: a critically acclaimed writer who values entertainment as much as his words. ‘If you are a serious literary writer you are almost obligated to provide the intelligent average reader with something that they can relate to and care about,’ he told the Independent.
Be entranced, engaged and entertained in this intimate audience at the Wheeler Centre.
Presented in partnership with Adelaide Writers Week.
Who?
Michel Faber
Michel Faber has written eight books. In addition to the Whitbread-shortlisted Under the Skin, he is the author of the highly acclaimed The Crimson Petal and the White, The Fire Gospel and The Fahrenheit Twins.
Ramona Koval
Ramona Koval is a writer, journalist, broadcaster and editor. She is an Honorary Fellow at the centre for Advancing Journalism, University of Melbourne.
