The genre-defying, Booker shortlisted, bestselling novel Cloud Atlas is 20 years old (no we can’t believe it either) and to celebrate this anniversary, we’re welcoming its author David Mitchell to The Bath Festival.
The book was originally published in 2004 and is comprised of six interconnected tales, each written in a unique style and told from a differing perspective. David will reflect on this literary masterpiece, and what it meant for his writing career. He’ll also discuss the challenges of turning one of the most complex novels into a Hollywood film.
David Mitchell has written eight novels, as well as essays, a novella and has adapted his work for the stage and screen. As a child, he didn’t speak until the age of five, after which he developed a stammer. As a result, his childhood was often one of solitude, which meant he spent a lot of time alone with his head in a book.
He spent his formative years reading J.R.R. Tolkein, Isaac Asimov and Ursula K. Le Guin. He went on to complete a degree in English and American literature, and an MA in Comparative Literature, after which he dedicated himself to writing.
Cloud Atlas (his third novel) was his breakthrough novel. Shortlisted for the Booker Prize and listed for many other awards. The work was acclaimed by critics and readers alike.
He has now been nominated for the Booker Prize five times! In 2018, he won The Sunday Times Award for Literary Excellence, given in recognition of a writer’s entire body of work.
