The Literary Scandal of the Year? Rachel Cusk's 'Life of M' / Natalie Portman Drama Explained
Readers are linking Rachel Cusk’s novel to Natalie Portman after noting shared biographical details and a publisher-described interrogation of fame, power, beauty and truth.
- Life, the new novel by British author Rachel Cusk, has sparked a literary storm over allegations it serves as an unflattering portrait of Oscar-winning actress Natalie Portman.
- A journalist claimed months ago that Cusk based her novel on time spent with Portman in Paris, a departure for the author who previously hosted Portman for a discussion where she was "starstruck."
- Critics have drawn parallels to The Professional, noting the main character describes experiences as a child star in a film that "immediately brought her childhood to an end," while Cusk seems eager to suggest the character is 100% Portman.
- Sources told the Daily Mail that Portman is "horrified" by the rumors, while Cusk recently told the New York Times that she is finding the tabloid frenzy "very stressful."
- The novel, billed by Farrar, Straus and Giroux as a "blazing interrogation of fame, power, beauty and truth," has triggered a debate about autofiction ethics and the treatment of public figures like Portman.
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17 Articles
The international bestsellerforfatter Rachel Cusk har skrevet en roman om Natalie Portman. Men he noget applied. Måske er det slet ikke skuespilleren, hun er ude efter.
Is Rachel Cusk’s “Life of M” Really About Natalie Portman? We Read it To Find Out
Being famous is weird. You give up all ideas of privacy to become a public vessel for millions of contradicting and aggravating ideas. Strangers knock on your door as if they're your friend and expect you to be grateful for... Read more...
Is Natalie Portman really at the center of Rachel Cusk's new novel – or is the whirl only clever, staged literature marketing?
A dark portrait of Natalie Portman? That's the rumor surrounding Rachel Cusk's new novel, "Life of M." Joanna Górecka burns through the novel in search of victims.
Launched this week in English, Life of M tells the story of a beautiful and famous actress who jumped to fame as a child and starred in a film about a ballet dancer. Although the Canadian author has avoided detailing whether she was inspired by the performer, the Oscar winner’s circle has whipped up the exercise. “The ties between women must be cultivated, not manipulated for commercial purposes,” they said.
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