Ian McEwan on his novels as A-level set texts

Writer Ian McEwan describes the odd experience of helping his son with an A-level essay about one of his novels, Enduring Love, and finding his son's teacher disagreed with his interpretation of the novel. This is an excerpt from Ian Katz's interview with McEwan at the Guardian's Open Weekend festival on 24 March 2012

[@432abcde]

I always wonder whether the writers of books we do in English actually intended everything we're learning about.

[@hbomberguy]

Enduring Love is an excellent story about lycanthropy.

[@jonharrison9222]

?

[@milesknightestrada3286]

​@@jonharrison9222The process by which one turns, physically or mentally, into a werewolf.

[@sareenab1000]

This is hilarious! His son is so lucky to be analysing his dad's work :') wish I was studying 'Enduring Love'

[@jaaajjjjjaaaaaaaajaa]

like if you are here because you didn't want to give a facebook app your details!!!

[@lolamby1]

The nervous sycophantic laughter is really grating.

[@jonharrison9222]

?

[@eightbitheros]

that's not what matters. You should read Roland Barthes' essay 'Death of the Author'

[@chokingmessiah]

Read Zadie Smith's essay "Rereading Barthes and Nabokov".

[@Copperfeel808]

Have you read Harry Potter?