Outline (novel)

Novel by Rachel Cusk

Outline

First edition (UK)

Author| Rachel Cusk
Language| English
Genre| Fiction
Publisher| Faber and Faber (UK), Farrar, Straus and Giroux (US)

Publication date

| 2014 (United Kingdom), 2015 (United States)
Pages| 256
ISBN| 978-0-374-22834-7
LC Class| PR6053.U825 O68 2015
Followed by| Transit

Outline is a 2014 novel by British author Rachel Cusk,[1] the first installment in her critically acclaimed The Outline trilogy,[2] followed by Transit (2016) and Kudos (2018).

This experimental work of autobiographical fiction follows an unnamed British novelist traveling to Athens to teach a writing workshop, where her encounters with various characters spark profound conversations about art, relationships, and selfhood. Through these dialogues – recounted in Cusk's signature sparse prose – the novel explores themes of identity, creative expression, and the boundaries between fiction and reality.[3]

Praised for its innovative structure that blurs traditional narrative conventions, Outline received widespread critical acclaim upon release. It was shortlisted for several prestigious literary awards including the Goldsmiths Prize (2014)[4] and Folio Prize (2015),[5] and named one of The New York Times Top 10 Books of 2015.[6] The novel has been recognized as a landmark in contemporary literature, ranking 34th in The Guardian's 100 Best Books Since 2000[7] and 14th in the New York Times Best Books of the 21st Century (2024).[8] Critics have celebrated its radical approach to storytelling as redefining modern fiction's possibilities.[9]

## Plot

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An English woman writer flies to Athens to teach a summer writing workshop. On the plane, she meets an older Greek bachelor[10] who tells her about his two failed marriages. The next day, she meets with an Irish colleague from the writing school who also tells her his life story. In every chapter, the writer meets people and engages in long conversations on love, fiction, marriage, and intimacy.[11]

## Reception

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Outline was named one of The New York Times Top Ten books of 2015.[6] It made the 2014 shortlist of the Goldsmiths Prize,[4] the 2015 shortlist of the Folio Prize,[5] and the 2015 shortlist of the Bailey Women's Prize for Fiction.[12]

Outline was voted the 34th best book since 2000 by The Guardian.[7] In 2024, it was listed #14 on The New York Times' 100 Best Books of the 21st Century list.[8]

## References

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1. ^ "Outline | Rachel Cusk | Macmillan". US Macmillan. Retrieved 26 December 2018.
2. ^ "Macmillan: Series: Outline Trilogy". US Macmillan. Retrieved 26 December 2018.
3. ^ Blair, Elaine (5 January 2015). "All Told". The New Yorker. Retrieved 26 December 2018.
4. ^ a b "The Goldsmiths Prize 2014". Goldsmiths, University of London. Retrieved 26 December 2018.
5. ^ a b Michel, Lincoln (9 February 2015). "The 2015 Folio Prize Shortlist". Electric Literature. Retrieved 26 December 2018.
6. ^ a b "The 10 Best Books of 2015". The New York Times. 3 December 2015. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 26 December 2018.
7. ^ a b Guardian Staff (21 September 2019). "The 100 best books of the 21st century". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 29 May 2020.
8. ^ a b "The 100 Best Books of the 21st Century". The New York Times. 8 July 2024. Retrieved 16 July 2024.
9. ^ Garner, Dwight; Sehgal, Parul; Szalai, Jennifer (5 March 2018). "The New Vanguard". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 26 December 2018.
10. ^ Garner, Dwight (6 January 2015). "An Appeal to Listen and Learn". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 26 December 2018.
11. ^ Lasdun, James (3 September 2014). "Outline by Rachel Cusk review – vignettes from a writing workshop". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 26 December 2018.
12. ^ "Baileys Women's prize for Fiction announce 2015 shortlist". Women's Prize for Fiction. 13 April 2015. Retrieved 26 December 2018.

*[LC Class]: Library of Congress Classification