Atonement

Atonement (2001) is an award-winning novel by British author Ian McEwan that spans the last two-thirds of the 20th century. The novel was a New York Times Bestseller for seven straight weeks and shortlisted for the Booker Prize for fiction in 2001. The 2007 film adaptation won an Academy Award, two Golden Globes, and a BAFTA Award. McEwan is critically acclaimed with over a dozen novels and other works of fiction to his name, as well as a multitude of prestigious awards and fellowships. Atonement is metafiction, which means that the novel draws attention to itself as a work of literature, discussing the literary devices and other storytelling elements it contains. The novel also includes aspects of the romance genre. In 2010, Time magazine chose Atonement as one of the 100 greatest English-language books since 1923. This guide uses an e-book version of the 2003 Anchor Books edition.

Content warning: Please be advised that Atonement depicts sexual violence including the sexual abuse of a child.

Plot Summary

Briony Tallis is a 13-year-old girl whose wealthy family lives on a country estate in England in the 1930s. Briony dreams of becoming a writer.