“The two characters that I have written who are older are Olive Kitteridge and Lucy Barton. It’s interesting because as I wrote them it was their character that was most important to me, and their age was simply a piece of that character. So even though I knew I was writing about older people I didn’t think about that in a way, except to make sure they were always who they were.”
The Booker Prize: Elizabeth Strout answers readers' questions about 'Oh William!'
The Booker Prize is the leading literary award in the English speaking world, and has brought recognition, reward and readership to outstanding fiction for over five decades. Each year, the prize is awarded to what is, in the opinion of the judges, the best novel of the year written in English and published in the UK and Ireland.
Booker Prize Shortlist: Profile, Readers Guide, Extracts, Readings
“No-one writes interior life as Strout does. This is meticulous observed writing, full of probing psychological insight. Lucy Barton is one of literature’s immortal characters – brittle, damaged, unravelling, vulnerable and most of all, ordinary, like us all.”
Profile and collection of features including written interviews, an article on the Lucy Barton series, a Reading Guide (for bookclubs and individual readers), a video Q&A with readers, and two short videos featuring Anna Friel reading extracts from Oh William!
“Elizabeth Strout,” Authors, the Booker Prize Library, The Booker Prizes website, September 6, 2022.Booker Shortlist: Interview: 'I could feel myself getting better with each story'
“With Oh William! shortlisted for the Booker Prize 2022, we spoke to Elizabeth Strout about her intimate characterisation, the importance of listening and what’s next for Lucy Barton.”
“‘Elizabeth Strout interview: 'I could feel myself getting better with each story',” Features, The Booker Library, The Booker Prizes website, September 6, 2022.OH WILLIAM! on the Booker Shortlist
I’m delighted that Oh William! made the shortlist for this year’s Booker Prize. It's an honor to be part of this community of readers and writers.