Rachel Cusk's 'Life of M' Is Not About Natalie Portman, Despite Rumors
On August 25, Farrar, Straus and Giroux released Rachel Cusk's novel 'Life of M,' which has sparked rumors that it reflects the life of actress Natalie Portman, a known friend of Cusk. However, the book serves as a metafictional inquiry into themes of identity and authorship. The story begins with an unnamed narrator considering the task of writing M's autobiography, suggesting a potentially unreliable perspective. The opening chapter alludes to M's celebrity and early experiences, reminiscent of Portman's breakout role in 'Léon: The Professional' (1994). As the narrative evolves, it adopts a vague 'we' voice, incorporating generic settings and hypothetical situations. In the concluding chapter, M critiques the manuscript as 'hurtful' and rejects the events portrayed. Cusk's narrative delves into concepts of artificiality and identity, with neither woman addressing the ongoing speculation.
Key facts
- Rachel Cusk's novel 'Life of M' is published by Farrar, Straus and Giroux on August 25.
- The novel has been rumored to be based on Natalie Portman, a friend of Cusk.
- The narrator in the novel tells M she is thinking of writing her autobiography.
- M's childhood film role 'ended her childhood,' echoing Portman's role in 'Léon: The Professional' (1994).
- The narrator and M meet only once in a hotel garden.
- The novel's middle chapters use a first-person plural 'we' and describe M's life in generic settings.
- In the final chapter, M calls the manuscript 'hurtful' and says she has never been to the places described.
- The narrator admits, 'The character was invented by me,' and that she knows nothing about M's private life.
- The novel ends with M asking the narrator, 'Are you a guy or a girl?'
- Neither Cusk nor Portman has made a public statement about the novel.
Entities
Artists
- Rachel Cusk
- Natalie Portman
Institutions
- Farrar, Straus and Giroux
- Slate