Claire Messud (born 1966) is an American novelist and literature and creative writing professor. She is best known as the author of the 2006 novel The Emperor's Children. Read full biography of Claire Messud →
The more accurately one can illuminate a particular human experience, the better the work of art.
I believe that, in an ideal world, writers would feel free to write what matters to them without having to consider success, failure, the market, etc.
The effort to create a work of art that is true and potentially lasting, that is the very best work of art you can create at that point in your life... →
An abiding preoccupation for me is how much of our lives are invisible and unknown by other people, like the Chekhov story 'The Lady With the... →
As any of us approaches middle age, we inevitably come up against our limitations: the realization that certain dearly-held fantasies may not be... →
I wanted to write a voice that for me, as a reader, had been missing from the chorus: the voice of an angry woman.
I'm not a writing group member, not a joiner in that way. I don't seek a wide swath of feedback.
If I had to summarize, most broadly, my concerns as a writer, I'd say the question 'How then must we live?' is at the heart of it, for me.
Yes, writing is essential to me. It's my way of living in the world.
Claire Messud (born 1966) is an American novelist and literature and creative writing professor. She is best known as the author of the 2006 novel The Emperor's Children.