Under the Skin (novel)
Encyclopedia
Under the Skin is a novel by Michel Faber
, his first full-length novel. It is set in northern Scotland
. It was shortlisted for the 2000 Whitbread Award
.
, sent to Earth by a rich corporation on her planet to pick up unwary hitchhikers. She drugs them and delivers them to her compatriots who mutilate and fatten her victims so that they can be turned into meat—human ("vodsel") flesh is a delicacy on the aliens' barren homeworld. The word "vodsel" strongly resembles the Dutch word for food, "voedsel". This resemblance is probably not accidental since Michel Faber is of Dutch nationality.
Isserley later meets Amlis Vess, the "Elite" son of her boss, who changes her attitudes to the hitchhikers and then leaves, breaking her heart. She finally flees her job and commits suicide.
The novel is darkly satirical. It touches on political themes around big business, intensive farming, and environmental decay; and reflects on more personal questions of sexual identity, humanity, snobbery, and mercy.
reviewed the book and said "the real triumph is Faber's restrained, almost opaque prose. This is a man who could give Conrad
a run at writing the perfect sentence." However, they conclude:
attached to direct and Scarlett Johansson
is set to star as the main character.
Michel Faber
Michel Faber is a Dutch-born writer of fiction. He writes in English.Faber was born in The Hague, Netherlands. He and his parents emigrated to Australia in 1967...
, his first full-length novel. It is set in northern Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. It was shortlisted for the 2000 Whitbread Award
2000 Whitbread Awards
The Whitbread Awards are among the United Kingdom's most prestigious literary awards. They were launched in 1971, are given both for high literary merit but also for works that are enjoyable reading and whose aim is to convey the enjoyment of reading to the widest possible audience...
.
Plot
The protagonist is Isserley, an extraterrestrialExtraterrestrial life in popular culture
In popular cultures, "extraterrestrials" are life forms — especially intelligent life forms— that are of extraterrestrial origin .-Historical ideas:-Pre-modern:...
, sent to Earth by a rich corporation on her planet to pick up unwary hitchhikers. She drugs them and delivers them to her compatriots who mutilate and fatten her victims so that they can be turned into meat—human ("vodsel") flesh is a delicacy on the aliens' barren homeworld. The word "vodsel" strongly resembles the Dutch word for food, "voedsel". This resemblance is probably not accidental since Michel Faber is of Dutch nationality.
Isserley later meets Amlis Vess, the "Elite" son of her boss, who changes her attitudes to the hitchhikers and then leaves, breaking her heart. She finally flees her job and commits suicide.
The novel is darkly satirical. It touches on political themes around big business, intensive farming, and environmental decay; and reflects on more personal questions of sexual identity, humanity, snobbery, and mercy.
Reception
The GuardianThe Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
reviewed the book and said "the real triumph is Faber's restrained, almost opaque prose. This is a man who could give Conrad
Joseph Conrad
Joseph Conrad was a Polish-born English novelist.Conrad is regarded as one of the great novelists in English, although he did not speak the language fluently until he was in his twenties...
a run at writing the perfect sentence." However, they conclude:
Film
The book is being adapted into film with Jonathan GlazerJonathan Glazer
Jonathan Glazer is an English director of films, commercials and music videos.-Biography:After studying theatre design at Nottingham Trent University, Glazer started out directing theatre and making film and television trailers, including award-winning work for the BBC...
attached to direct and Scarlett Johansson
Scarlett Johansson
Scarlett Johansson is an American actress, model and singer.Johansson made her film debut in North and was later nominated for the Independent Spirit Award for Best Female Lead for her performance in Manny & Lo . She rose to further prominence with her roles in The Horse Whisperer and Ghost World...
is set to star as the main character.
External links
- First Chapters: Under the Skin, The GuardianThe GuardianThe Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
, May 2, 2000