Acclaimed author Maggie O’Farrell talks about her gripping historical thriller wedding portrait, A famous Cambridge associate, Steven Spielberg has one of her books as an option.
The latest novel by award-winning Northern Irish author Maggie O’Farrell, portrait of marriage is a compelling historical thriller that examines the fate of 16th-century Italian aristocrat Lucrezia de’ Medici. After she entered her husband’s court in 1560, Lucrezia died just one year after she was sixteen. Some suspected her poisoning was the cause of her death, while others pointed to her spouse as responsible.
It’s clearly a story worthy of novel treatment, but has O’Farrell been thinking about writing it for a long time?
“No, not at all,” she replied, speaking from her home in Edinburgh. “Most novel ideas creep in slowly, but this one was an exception. One day it really fell into my lap. Waiting outside, my daughter was the last play date in a very long time.
“I used to re-read Robert Browning’s poems, sometimes in between books when I’m trying to decide what to do next.” I was vaguely wondering if it was based on events. So I looked it up and within minutes I had her name and a few minutes later a portrait of Lucrezia popped up on my phone.
“It was so strange. As soon as I saw it, I felt like I was looking at the material for my next book. I was going to write her story as she told it.”
As the author elaborates, Browning’s poem alludes to Lucrezia’s story.
“I think everyone who studied literature has read My Last Duchess,” says Magee. “It is the Duke’s voice who entertains this guest. He draws the curtain and says, ‘This is a portrait of my ex-wife. Oh, by the way, I killed her. It is written that you are a representative of the fiancée’s family, which is very surprising to get someone you want to marry to admit it.
the opening paragraph of portrait of marriage It ends with a revelation of Lucrezia’s future demise, instantly captivating the reader.
“I wanted to write a book where reading poetry wasn’t important,” the author explains. “I didn’t want to write a novel that would require a degree in English Literature to understand it. Of course, it’s an absolute present for the opening. I thought, let’s do it – a full Gothic Renaissance.” It’s his horror.
Did she want it to read like a thriller?
“Obviously, I didn’t want to write a whodunnit. ‘It was more of a ‘why’ – how did this happen? A year later, this healthy 15-year-old girl died.’ Why. Because it’s ambiguous. Rumors abounded at the time that he had poisoned her. Indeed, he placed spies in her parents’ court after she died.
“But some claim she died of natural causes. It’s ambiguous as to whether he murdered her. was Talented Mr. Ripley, and she was very good at drawing thrillers.She also stopped by Daphne du Maurier’s novel my cousin rachelFamous for Rebecca, my cousin rachel An amazing feat of plot.
“You think Rachel’s evil and start writing a novel, and du Maurier twists it and you think, ‘Oh my God, she’s not that bad,’ and she twists it again. It’s a technique that allows you to pull the rug out from underneath. So I studied it and kept it at the forefront of my mind.”
What other themes did Maggie want to explore?
“I was really interested in the idea that there are all sorts of other stories and interpretations behind the stories we think we know about certain periods of history, but are actually accepted.” she recalls. “If you ask anyone the name of a famous Italian Renaissance family, they will say the Medici. Her life was very short, and yet not much is known about her.
“In a way, I was really fascinated by bringing her into the light. Putting her in the center of the stage and saying, ‘She didn’t live long, but she was very important.'” to say. There was also the idea that she could highlight this practice of infanticide. Kill your wife when it’s inconvenient for you. Her sister and cousin were also killed by her husband. Just look at Henry VIII having someone else do it, but essentially the same thing. It’s really shocking. ”
As a historical novel portrait of marriage Very impressive. I tell Maggie that one of his favorite novels is Patrick Susskind’s Dark He’s a Thriller. perfume, about a murderous perfume maker in 18th-century France. A Kurt Cobain favorite based on the book, Nirvana’s song “Scentless Apprentice” was at one point considered for a film adaptation by Stanley Kubrick.
German coach Tom Tykwer eventually fined him perfume In the 2006 film starring Ben Whishaw, Dustin Hoffman, and Alan Rickman, Kubrick’s version was definitely on a different level in terms of visual splendor and thematic depth. There’s no question that Perfume pulls you into a specific time and place with a intensity that few historical novels can match.
“Great.” Agree with Maggie on Suskind’s masterpiece. “I think the kind of historical fiction that I really like is downplaying that history. perfume To do. I really don’t like reading historical novels when the writer thinks I need to tell them I’ve done my homework. I don’t read novels that rely heavily on facts. Patrick Susskind is very light on detail from his time period and I think that’s one of the reasons why this piece is so engaging and moving. ”
O’Farrell, now 50, was born in Derry before growing up in Wales and Scotland and has led a cyclical life to this day.After she attended Cambridge, she lived in Hong Kong for a period of time before returning to London. independent on sundayGiven the rich heritage of Cambridge’s Footlights comedy group dating back to her college days, would Maggie ever attend one of their events?
“My husband and I met there, but we weren’t a couple at the time,” she recalls. “I think he’s done it twice. In fact, I’ve seen him once!
Do you have any comedians who are notable as companions?
“I think Robert Webb and David Mitchell were there,” Magee says. “I remember them being around, and Alexander Armstrong and Ben Miller. Rachel Weisz was there too, but she’s clearly not a comedian. She’s kind of hard to miss.” Sacha Baron-Cohen – I’m not saying I know these people, there was a late night standup thing where I met these guys.
When I asked if there will be a film adaptation of O’Farrell’s work, I learned that we have some exciting news about her 2020 novel. Hamnettis the fictional story of Shakespeare’s son who died in 1596 at the age of eleven.
“Hamnett It’s with Steven Spielberg and Sam Mendes’ production company, and they’re both involved,” McGee says. teeth. Television is a very strange business. It’s like going in and out of focus. Suddenly people get agitated and disappear again. I wish I had, but it’s okay if you don’t! ”
• portrait of marriage It is now published by Tinder Press.
