The author of the book thief explains why failure is his best friend, and why all writers tend to be loners interview by sarah kinson fri 28 mar 2008 05. My favorite book of 2010 has to be the book thief by markus zusak because it is singularly superb. Winning over 12 awards and staying on the new york times best seller list for over 230 weeks exploring the themes of war, death, friendship and love, the book thief tells the story of young liesel meminger, adopted into the care of hans and rosa hubermann. Markus zusak on why his followup to the book thief almost broke him the author of the bestselling phenomenon reveals to ew why his epic new novel bridge of. I should hasten to admit, however, that there was a considerable hiatus between the first stolen book and the second. Interview with author of the book thief steppenwolf theatre. Director brian percival and author markus zusak talk the book thief, translating the book to screen, the casting process, bridge of clay. Markus zusak, author of bestselling novel the book thief, answers questions from guardian childrens books site members about the film of his. Markus zusak, author of the book thief and the messenger us title, i am the messenger spoke to me way back in 2007, shortly following the paperback release of the book thief. For more information about markus zusak or events happening in conjunction with the chicago public librarys the book thief one book, one chicago. Interview with markus zusak part 1 of 2 view from here the. Markus zusak, author of the book thief markus zusaks the book thief has spent more than six years on the new york times bestseller list. The unique point of view of the narrator, the strong characterization, and an innovative approach to an overworked nazi germany topic make this book exceptional.
Actress, writer and director heidi stillman wrote the stage adaptation of the book thief, playing at steppenwolf theatre this fall. He lives in sydney, australia, with his wife and children. His work is translated into more than forty languages, and has spent more than a decade on the new york times bestseller list, establishing zusak as one of the most successful authors to come out of australia. The book thief films biggest hurdle was death film. When liesl learns to read, she begins stealing books, hence the title of zusak s book. A girl, some words, an accordionist, some fanatical germans, a jewish fistfighter, and quite a lot of thievery. Whether standing in front of a group thats come to hear him speak or writing the words to a book, he has the uncanny ability to weave a story that keeps people on the edges of their seats until the very end. He received the childrens book council of australias book of the year award for i am the messenger. I was just failing and failing, over and over again the hugely anticipated followup novel to the book thief has finally arrived. Interview with markus zusak, author of bridge of clay.
The book thief was published as a novel for adults in australia and as a young adult novel in the united states, but zusak doesnt draw such distinctions. His mother told him stories about the marching of the jews through towns and the munich bombings. Set during world war ii in germany, markus zusaks groundbreaking new novel is the story of liesel meminger, a foster girl living outside of munich. Narrated by death, this story follows leisel as she steals books in nazi germany while she and her best friend rudy discover the power of words, language and friendship. Interview with markus zusak chicago public library.
For more information about markus zusak or events happening in conjunction with the chicago public librarys the book thief one book, one chicago programming, please visit. His father inspired the character hans huberman who is. First, the most remarkable feature of the bookthief, is the narrator, death. It began with a little boy, fully formed in the authors imagination, and a name. In zusak s latest young adult novel, the book thief, death doesnt gleefully gather up the newly dead. What i wanted to do was write someones favorite book, rather than write for a specific audience, zusak revealed in an interview.
Both his mother and father had lived through world war ii. I am the messenger, two novels which became international bestsellers. Markus zusak, the author of the book thief, the bestselling world war ii drama that was made into a film starring geoffrey rush and emily watson, has a new young adult. The book thief is a very personal story for zusak, whose german mother was a young girl during the holocaust. Author interview markus zusak, author of the book thief. The official website of the book thief your spot for the latest on markus zusak and the book thief united states holocaust memorial museum this site provides concise information and is a great quick reference for many of the events alluded to in the novel. I was first turned on to markus zusak when i watched an interview he gave about the book thief. The book thief is widely considered to be zusak s best novel. April 2, 2006 nprs john ydstie interviews markus zusak, author of the book thief, a novel set in world war ii germany with death himself as the narrator. He is best known for the book thief and the messenger us title. That markus zusak had earlier intended to call his book claytons bridge is. A conversation with markus zusak about the book thief.
The book thief had struck for the first timethe beginning of an illustrious career. In honor of the film adaptation of markus zusak s much beloved novel the book thief its sold 8 million copies worldwide, if thats not beloved, dear god, i dont know what is hitting theaters today, as follows, an edited phone interview i, along with a handful of other book bloggers, conducted with zusak a. Markus zusak at the age of 30, zusak has already asserted himself as one of todays most innovative and poetic novelists. Interview with markus zusak interview with markus zusak actress, writer and director heidi stillman wrote the stage adaptation of the book thief, playing at steppenwolf theatre this fall. Interview with author of the book thief thank you to the chicago public library for partnering on the content of this article. Author markus zusak talks about writing the book thief, i am the messenger and the writing life.
Zusaks the book thief is one of the most celebrated. Its just a small story really, about among other things. In 2006 markus zusak released the book thief, a book set in nazi germany, narrated by death. A family saga, bridge of clay tells the story of clay, one of five unruly dunbar brothers, who possesses a secret.
It builds upon expectations of the readers of the book thief but as markus zusak says in the interview, the challenge was always to write this book the way it needed to be written, despite the book thief s success, and readers wanting the same experience. Zusak discussed his writing process and his new book bridge of clay. Odd narrator of a girls story nprs john ydstie interviews markus zusak, author of the book thief, a novel set in world war ii germany with death himself as the narrator. I recently sat down with stars geoffrey rush and sophie nelisse, director brian. Winning over 12 awards and staying on the new york times best seller list for over 230 weeks exploring the themes of war, death, friendship and love, the book thief tells the story of young liesel meminger, adopted into the care of hans and rosa hubermann and lives. In an interview, you mentioned that writing this book was difficult. Author markus zusak sits down for an interview with the daily iowan in the iowa city public library on monday, oct. More than a decade after the publication of his last book, the international bestseller the book thief, australian author markus zusak returns with a muchanticipated new novel. With the publication of the book thief, he is now being dubbed a literary phenomenon by australian and u.
A conversation with markus zusak about the book thief a story about, among other things. So in typical suz style, i hunted markus down for an interview. Another noteworthy point is that the first was stolen from snow and the second from fire. Markus zusak, author of the book thief, talks creating newest work. However, markus zusak captures deaths voice in a poetic, elegant and human way. This interview was specifically for the belvedere writers club, a project aimed at helping new writers get their short fiction published, so i was. In the hands of australian writer markus zusak, death is a surprisingly enjoyable omniscient narrator. The author chats to us about the film, the book and the power of storytelling.
Markus zusak s bridge of clay, out in 2018 through pan macmillan. This book stayed a bestseller according to the new york times for more than 10 years. Heidi and markus zusak took part in the below conversation via email in spring 2012. Back in september, i interviewed australian author marcus zusak about his bestselling novel the book thief before an audience at l. Markus zusak is the author of five books, including the international bestseller, the book thief, which spent more than a decade on the new york times bestseller list, and is translated into more than forty languages establishing zusak as one of the most successful authors to come out of australia. The book thief has been published in over forty languages, topped the amazon charts, and was in the top 10 across all continents. An unforgettable and sweeping family saga from markus zusak, the storyteller who gave us the extraordinary bestseller the book thief the breathtaking story of five brothers who bring each other up in a world run by their own rules. Markus zusak, the book thief, books, awards, wife, net worth. Pan macmillan hope in the book thief comes in the form of liesel.
Markus zusaks international bestseller the book thief marks its 10th anniversary this year. The book thief author markus zusak on bridge of clay. Markus zusak is the international bestselling author of six novels, including the book thief and most recently, bridge of clay. Markus zusak interview i believe this interview was written in 2006. Get free homework help on markus zusak s the book thief. Markus zusak s novels include fighting ruben wolfe, getting the girl, i am the messenger, the book thief and bridge of clay. His newest, muchanticipated novel, bridge of clay, will release in october 2018. Markus zusak s international bestseller the book thief marks its 10th anniversary this year. Excerpt from the book thief by markus zusak abc news. Markus zusak born 23 june 1975 is an australian writer of german origin. It was done for the us bookseller and publisher, although the published version underwent a very heavy copyedit and actually bore very little relationship to what i wrote or what markus said.
The book well explore together is the book thief written by markus zusak in 2005. A conversation with markus zusak publishers weekly. Markus zusak on how bridge of clay left him beaten up and. Interview with markus zusak, author of the book thief. Despite his affinity with failure, markus zusak is the author of five books, including the international bestseller, the book thief, which has now been translated into more than 40 languages. Markus zusaks the book thief has spent more than six years on the new york times bestseller list. Interview with markus zusakauthor of the book thief. Of course, when i went to get it at borders, they didnt have it. Markus zusak s the book thief, set in germany during world war ii, follows young liesel meminger as she struggles with the loss of her mother and brother and must go to live with foster parents, hans and rosa hubermann. The milestone is celebrated with a new special edition, containing 32 pages of bonus content including manuscript pages, original sketches, pages from zusak s writing notebook and a letter from the author. It was inspired by stories that zusak s parents told him as a child. Markus zusak, author of the book thief, talks creating. Interview with markus zusak, author of the book thief youtube. Author interview markus zusak, author of the book thief bookpage.
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