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The Children Act

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The Children Act

By: Ian McEwan
Narrated by: Lindsay Duncan
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Fiona Maye is a leading High Court judge, presiding over cases in the family court. She is renowned for her fierce intelligence, exactitude and sensitivity. But her professional success belies private sorrow and domestic strife. There is the lingering regret of her childlessness, and now, her marriage of thirty years is in crisis.

At the same time, she is called on to try an urgent case: for religious reasons, a beautiful seventeen-year-old boy, Adam, is refusing the medical treatment that could save his life, and his devout parents share his wishes. Time is running out. Should the secular court overrule sincerely held faith? In the course of reaching a decision Fiona visits Adam in hospital – an encounter which stirs long-buried feelings in her and powerful new emotions in the boy. Her judgment has momentous consequences for them both.

 Fiction Genre Fiction Literary Fiction Political Heartfelt Inspiring Thought-Provoking
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Critic reviews

Compulsively readable... McEwan’s prose keeps its cutting edge and his books are the ones the reading public still crave… A masterly balance between research and imagination… One feels an immediate pleasure in returning to prose of uncommon clarity, unshowiness and control
Classic McEwan… It’s a pleasure from start to finish, one not to be interrupted
A powerful, humane novel
One of the finest writers alive
McEwan writes as beautifully and elegantly as ever, his prose quintessentially English in its restraint, one meticulously chosen word hinting at depths of emotion
A finely written, engaging read… Poignant, challenging and lyrical
A class act by one of our finest novelists. (Viv Groskop)
A compelling moral dilemma [with] a moving and heartfelt denouement.
Shows McEwan as a master of fiction. (Olivia Cole)
It is one most extraordinary, powerful, moving reading experiences of my life. It is an utterly remarkable novel, delicately balanced, perfectly crafted, beautifully written. (Alberto Manguel)
All stars
Most relevant
This is a novella that left me hungry for more, not because it was unsatisfying but because it was so good I hunger for more.
Beautifully written, concise and delicate like the decisions made by the characters in this pages.
A demonstration that so much can be expressed in a few pages with diaphanous economy of words. And so much is implied in the selection of music and poems as passing references in conversation and memories of a life full of success and terrible failures; that we all share. It demonstrates that with age the biggest wisdom we achieve is the power of forgiveness of others and ourselves.
the best book I have read this year.

An act of literary power

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I like Ian McEwan novels and as a retired social worker I was particularly interested in the story line.My favourite genre is crime/thrillers, which of course this isn't, but it held my interest throughout. I also thought his research was thorough, couldn't fault him on procedures. And of course it's essentially about relationships: so good. He manages to make judgements about class without labouring the point that not all justice is equal. I was a little disappointed in the ending, though not overly surprised. And Lindsay Duncan has the perfect voice. An excellent read.

Enthralling story with a great voice

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Ian McEwan writes again about someone having to deal with matters outside their normal professional compass. Fiona is a highly respected senior judge in the family courts, but her tranquil expertise is at a loss to deal with simultaneous blows from a case that draws her in personally and from her wayward husband's mid-life crisis. Echoes of "Saturday" and "Solar" here I thought. Poetry and music are not simply background to a privileged lifestyle but unexpectedly prove key to the events that unfold.

I admire the author's ability to capture complexity with wonderfully spare writing - others might take double the length to explore so many ideas with both intellect and emotion. Lindsay Duncan's voice is just right for most of the book but lacked credibility when delivering the dialogue of a precocious 17 year old.

Real life shatters a judge's calm detachment

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This is a complex wonderful read that explores ageing, childlessness, the price of a career, religion and the challenge of playing the piano really well

Breathtaking

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If you like this author already this is the usual superb writing but rather poignant and moving. Beautifully observed as always.

Superb

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