Morvern Callar: Difference between revisions
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'''''Morvern Callar''''' is a 1995 [[Experimental literature|experimental]] novel by Scottish author [[Alan Warner (novelist)|Alan Warner]]. Published as his first novel, its [[first-person narrative]]—mainly written in [[Scots language|Scots]]—explores the social life and cultural interests of the titular character following the sudden death of her boyfriend. | '''''Morvern Callar''''' is a 1995 [[Experimental literature|experimental]] [[Existentialism|existential]] novel by Scottish author [[Alan Warner (novelist)|Alan Warner]]. Published as his first novel, its [[first-person narrative]]—mainly written in [[Scots language|Scots]]—explores the social life and cultural interests of the titular character following the sudden death of her boyfriend. | ||
The novel was a winner of the [[Somerset Maugham Award]] in 1996,<ref>{{cite web| url = http://facstaff.unca.edu/moseley/maugham.html| title = Somerset Maugham Award| publisher = [[UNC Asheville]]| accessdate = 2008-01-30| url-status = dead| archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20070929090554/http://facstaff.unca.edu/moseley/maugham.html| archivedate = 2007-09-29}}</ref> and a critically acclaimed [[Morvern Callar (film)|adaptation]] directed by Scottish film director [[Lynne Ramsay]] was released in 2002. | The novel was a winner of the [[Somerset Maugham Award]] in 1996,<ref>{{cite web| url = http://facstaff.unca.edu/moseley/maugham.html| title = Somerset Maugham Award| publisher = [[UNC Asheville]]| accessdate = 2008-01-30| url-status = dead| archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20070929090554/http://facstaff.unca.edu/moseley/maugham.html| archivedate = 2007-09-29}}</ref> and a critically-acclaimed [[Morvern Callar (film)|adaptation]] directed by Scottish film director [[Lynne Ramsay]] was released in 2002. | ||
== | ==Background and development== | ||
Warner initially developed the narrative of ''Morvern Callar'' from the perspective of the titular character's boyfriend. He became frustrated with the rigidity of the perspective and reworked the novel to be from Callar's perspective, and to begin with her boyfriend's suicide; he commented that "I was very, very uncomfortable and nervous about it – I didn't think it was convincing. I thought the rhythm was very strange. I didn't think it was any good. And I didn't show it to anyone."<ref name="Barton 2014">{{cite web | last=Barton | first=Laura | title=Alan Warner: booze, books and why he's backing Scottish independence | website=[[The Guardian]] | date=August 19, 2014 | url=http://www.theguardian.com/books/2014/aug/19/alan-warner-booze-books-why-voting-scottish-independence | access-date=February 12, 2023}}</ref> | In an interview with [[Zoë Strachan]] Warner talked about how formative [[existentialism|existentialist]] books such as ''[[The Stranger (Camus novel)|The Stranger]]'' and ''[[Nausea (novel)|Nausea]]'' were for him and how this existentialism made its way into ''Morvern Callar''.<ref>{{cite interview|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000505111833/https://www.spikemagazine.com/0300alanwarner.htm |url=https://www.spikemagazine.com/0300alanwarner.htm |url-status=dead |access-date=23 June 2025 |archive-date=5 May 2000 |author=Warner, Alan |interviewer=Strachan, Zoë |magazine=[[Spike Magazine]] |title=Existential Ecstasy}}</ref> | ||
Warner initially developed the narrative of ''Morvern Callar'' from the perspective of the titular character's boyfriend. He became frustrated with the rigidity of the perspective and reworked the novel to be from Callar's perspective, and to begin with her boyfriend's suicide; he commented that "I was very, very uncomfortable and nervous about it – I didn't think it was convincing. I thought the rhythm was very strange. I didn't think it was any good. And I didn't show it to anyone."<ref name="Barton 2014">{{cite web | last=Barton | first=Laura | title=Alan Warner: booze, books and why he's backing Scottish independence |website=[[The Guardian]] | date=August 19, 2014 | url=http://www.theguardian.com/books/2014/aug/19/alan-warner-booze-books-why-voting-scottish-independence | access-date=February 12, 2023}}</ref> | |||
==Analysis== | ==Analysis== | ||
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|publisher= De Gruyter | |publisher= De Gruyter | ||
|isbn=9783110367935}}</ref> | |isbn=9783110367935}}</ref> | ||
==Reception== | |||
''[[Complete Review]]'' called ''Morvern Caller'' "an entertaining little read". It also looked at different reviews at the time and noted the novel's polarized mixed reception, writing "Some thought Morvern was a fabulous representation of disaffected youth, others thought it simply mindless sensationalism."<ref>{{cite web|title=Morvern Callar by Alan Warner |url=https://www.complete-review.com/reviews/warnera/morvern.htm |access-date=23 June 2025 |website=[[Complete Review]]}}</ref> | |||
== Awards and nominations == | |||
{|class="wikitable" | |||
! Year | |||
! Association | |||
! Result | |||
! scope="col" | {{abbr|Ref(s).|Reference(s)}} | |||
|- | |||
|1996 | |||
|[[Somerset Maugham Award]] | |||
|{{won}} | |||
|<ref>{{cite web| url = http://facstaff.unca.edu/moseley/maugham.html| title = Somerset Maugham Award| publisher = [[UNC Asheville]]| accessdate = 2008-01-30| url-status = dead| archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20070929090554/http://facstaff.unca.edu/moseley/maugham.html| archivedate = 2007-09-29}}</ref> | |||
|- | |||
|1997 | |||
|[[International Dublin Literary Award]] | |||
|{{nominated}} | |||
|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://dublinliteraryaward.ie/the-library/books/morvern-callar/ |title= 1997 Shortlist - Morvern Callar - Alan Warner |access-date=23 June 2025 |website=[[International Dublin Literary Award]]|date= 14 November 1997 }}</ref> | |||
|} | |||
==Reviews== | ==Reviews== | ||
Latest revision as of 09:03, 24 June 2025
Template:Short description Script error: No such module "about". Template:Use dmy dates Script error: No such module "Infobox".Template:Template otherScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".Template:Wikidata image Morvern Callar is a 1995 experimental existential novel by Scottish author Alan Warner. Published as his first novel, its first-person narrative—mainly written in Scots—explores the social life and cultural interests of the titular character following the sudden death of her boyfriend.
The novel was a winner of the Somerset Maugham Award in 1996,[1] and a critically-acclaimed adaptation directed by Scottish film director Lynne Ramsay was released in 2002.
Background and development
In an interview with Zoë Strachan Warner talked about how formative existentialist books such as The Stranger and Nausea were for him and how this existentialism made its way into Morvern Callar.[2]
Warner initially developed the narrative of Morvern Callar from the perspective of the titular character's boyfriend. He became frustrated with the rigidity of the perspective and reworked the novel to be from Callar's perspective, and to begin with her boyfriend's suicide; he commented that "I was very, very uncomfortable and nervous about it – I didn't think it was convincing. I thought the rhythm was very strange. I didn't think it was any good. And I didn't show it to anyone."[3]
Analysis
Morvern Callar has been analyzed as dealing with "the neoliberalization of working conditions from within" in the British Isles, using a polyphonic style of narrative depicting the overlapping yet abruptly changing lives of its characters to convey precarity; hence, "the absence of any collective organization in the novel further emphasizes the divisions that precarity creates".[4]
Reception
Complete Review called Morvern Caller "an entertaining little read". It also looked at different reviews at the time and noted the novel's polarized mixed reception, writing "Some thought Morvern was a fabulous representation of disaffected youth, others thought it simply mindless sensationalism."[5]
Awards and nominations
| Year | Association | Result | Ref(s). |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | Somerset Maugham Award | Template:Won | [6] |
| 1997 | International Dublin Literary Award | Template:Nominated | [7] |
Reviews
- Dunn, Angus, review of Morvern Callar by Alan Warner, in Bryan, Tom, Northwords, Issue 7, Ross and Cromarty District Council, 1996, p. 33, Template:Issn
References
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