tech
The rise of ‘biogossip’: Rachel Cusk’s Natalie Portman novel is the latest in a delicious literary lineage
The much-discussed Life of M is the latest in a lineage of celebrity satire that spans from Virginia Woolf to The Devil Wears Prada
TL;DR
- Rachel Cusk's novel 'Life of M' features a protagonist based on Natalie Portman, sparking speculation.
- 'Biogossip' is a genre of novels that incite speculation about the real individuals they are based on.
- Historical examples of biogossip include Virginia Woolf's 'Orlando' and Lauren Weisberger's 'The Devil Wears Prada'.
- Lisa Halliday's 'Asymmetry' is noted for its thinly veiled portrayal of Philip Roth.
- The allure of biogossip lies in the voyeuristic thrill of observing public figures from a distance.
- Cusk's approach in 'Life of M' is to strip away signifiers of class and taste, focusing on the nature of fame and societal parasociality.
- The author acknowledges her own participation in 'rabid sleuthing' for the inspiration behind Cusk's novel, suggesting this engagement might be part of Cusk's critique.