Sat Jan 25 04:00:00 UTC 2025: ## Bestselling Author Critiques Adaptation of Debut Novel, Praises “Conclave” Film Success
**New York, NY** – Acclaimed novelist Robert Harris, whose Vatican-set thriller *Conclave* recently garnered eight Academy Award nominations, recently discussed his work in an email interview. Harris expressed dissatisfaction with a film adaptation of his first novel, *Fatherland*, stating that the adaptation “sets my teeth on edge.” He contrasted this with the successful film adaptation of his 2016 novel, *Conclave*, remarking on the rare occasion when a film adaptation successfully captures the spirit of the original work while enhancing it.
Harris also shared his current reading list, which includes biographies of Henry V and Caesar Augustus. He highlighted “Journey to the Abyss,” a collection of diaries from the turn of the 20th century, as a personal favorite. He further offered his perspective on canonical works, suggesting the Gospels are often misunderstood, and their revolutionary message surpasses that of Marx and Lenin. Rejecting the distinction between “commercial” and “literary” fiction, Harris drew parallels to 19th-century novelists like Dickens and Trollope, who produced prolifically for large audiences without such artificial categorizations. His comments offer insight into the creative process and the challenges of adapting literature for the screen.
First Piper 