The genre-defying, Booker-shortlisted, bestselling novel Cloud Atlas is 20 years old this year (no we can’t believe it either) and to celebrate this anniversary, we’re welcoming its author David Mitchell to Bath for a special evening in conversation with author, journalist and composer, Mat Osman (The Ghost Factory).
Cloud Atlas 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 his 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.
‘I remember so clearly the sheer pleasure of reading Cloud Atlas for the first time. It was one of those rare books that expand your idea of what literature might be capable of. I’m still in awe of its scope and ambition, its readability and its heart, so I’m delighted to have a chance to talk to David about it at the Bath Festival.’ – Mat Osman
The Bath Festival is pleased to announce this new date and venue for this event which was originally programmed as part of our May festival line-up. Existing tickets remain valid.
Tickets, £11 (£8 concessions) plus booking fee.
David Mitchell has written eight novels, as well as essays and 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.
Mat Osman is the bassist and founder member of iconic British rock band Suede and a composer of music for TV and films. He also worked as a culture journalist during the noughties, writing about art and travel for papers, magazines and online. He is the author of bestselling novel The Ghost Theatre, published in 2023. ‘An excellent novel – riotous and abundant, full of vivid, dirty life’ – The Guardian
