M
Max Porter
Grief Is the Thing with Feathers
- Pages
- 128
- Published
- 2015
- Language
- English
Synopsis
A grieving father and writer struggles to raise his two young sons after his wife's death while trying to finish a book about Ted Hughes. The story moves between the narrator's present grief, memories of his late wife, and the lives of his children as they grapple with loss in their own ways.
Genres
Frequently asked questions
Is this book based on a true story?
While the specific events and characters are invented, the author has shared that the emotional core of the story is rooted in his own experience of losing his father when he was six years old.
Are there any adaptations of this story?
The book has been adapted into a stage play starring Cillian Murphy and a feature film directed by Dylan Southern that premiered in 2025 starring Benedict Cumberbatch.
What is the significance of the Crow character?
Crow is a direct literary reference to the 1970 poetry collection by Ted Hughes, serving as a chaotic, mythical presence that acts as a therapist and trickster for the grieving family.