The Emperor's Children
| Company type | Novel |
|---|---|
| Industry | Literature |
| Founded | 2006 |
| Founder | Claire Messud |
| Products | Fiction novel |
The Emperor's Children is a 2006 novel authored by American writer Claire Messud. It marks her third novel and her first to become a best-seller, having been longlisted for the 2006 Man Booker Prize.
Set in the period just before the September 11 attacks, the narrative centers on three affluent, highly educated friends in their early thirties residing in Manhattan. Each character grapples with intense personal and career-related pressures.
Plot
In New York City during 2001, three friends who once held promise find their professional paths stagnating. Danielle Minkoff maintains steady employment as a documentary television producer. Marina Thwaite, daughter of the esteemed critic Murray Thwaite, battles to complete a book on children's fashion after exhausting her advance and returns to live with her parents. Julius Clarke, a sharp critic for The Village Voice, supplements his modest income with temporary jobs he finds degrading. During one such assignment, he encounters David Cohen, a younger man with notable success; Julius seduces David and moves in with him, creating distance from Marina and Danielle.
Danielle engages in flirtations with Ludovic Seeley, an Australian editor launching the literary magazine The Monitor, as well as with Murray Thwaite, who initiates email correspondence under the guise of professional concern for Marina.
Marina’s 19-year-old cousin Bootie arrives in New York with ambitions of self-education and admiration for Murray. Although Marina is dismissive, Bootie quickly earns Murray’s favor, becoming his paid assistant while renting Julius’s former apartment.
Danielle introduces Seeley to Marina as a potential editor; Marina and Seeley begin a relationship that motivates Marina to resume work on her book, titled The Emperor's Children Have No Clothes. As Danielle grows disinterested in Seeley, she embarks on an affair with Murray.
Bootie uncovers Murray’s shortcomings: self-plagiarism, prioritizing glamorous events over meaningful work, and secretly authoring an indulgent book. Upon discovering Murray’s affair with Danielle, Bootie writes an exposé for The Monitor.
During the 4th of July weekend, Marina and Seeley become engaged, which frustrates both Danielle and Murray who suspect Seeley has hidden intentions. Marina completes her manuscript but Murray criticizes it as superficial, causing tension between them. Bootie’s exposé shocks the Thwaite family; Seeley supports its publication, leading to conflict with Marina.
Bootie becomes alienated from the Thwaites. After David loses his job, Julius reclaims his apartment; Bootie moves downtown into a room and struggles emotionally.
Marina moves forward with publishing her book and marrying Seeley. At the wedding, Danielle asks Murray to spend an entire night with her. On September 10, they finally do so; the following morning they witness the September 11 attacks. Overwhelmed by fear, Murray abandons Danielle to return to his wife Annabel, shattering Danielle’s heart.
Seeley recognizes that The Monitor’s launch is doomed as the attacks render its content irrelevant. Bootie’s mother Judy becomes concerned when he disappears; despite efforts by the Thwaites to locate him, they presume he has died.
Devastated by her breakup, Danielle travels to Miami with her mother and unexpectedly spots Bootie working as a waiter under the alias Ulrich New. He avoids interaction and flees once more.
Characters
- Danielle Minkoff — a 30-year-old producer working on the documentary series The Monitor.
- Marina Thwaite — aged 30, daughter of the critic Murray Thwaite; she secured a book contract shortly after college but exhausted the advance before completing the manuscript.
- Julius Clarke — 30 years old, openly gay, of mixed white and Vietnamese heritage, serving as a critic for The Village Voice.
- Bootie Tubb — 19, a college dropout and Marina Thwaite's cousin on her father's side.
- Murray Thwaite — 61, a journalist, professor, and author; father to Marina and husband to Annabel.
- Ludovic Seeley — an Australian editor who is launching a literary magazine based in New York City.
Reception
The New York Times included it among the top ten books of 2006. Additionally, it received the 2007 Massachusetts Book Award in the fiction category.
Adaptations
The novel is being transformed into a motion picture directed by Lake Bell, with a script written by Noah Baumbach. The cast features Keira Knightley, Eric Bana, and Richard Gere. The production is overseen by Brian Grazer. Originally, Ron Howard was attached as director but departed to focus on The Dilemma.
Editions
- Alfred A. Knopf, New York, 2006. Hardcover edition.
- Vintage Books, 2007. Trade paperback edition.