Claire Messud
4 SeriesClaire Messud is an American novelist who has received the Guggenheim and Radcliffe Fellowships, as well as the Strauss Living Award from the American Academy of Arts and Letters. She was educated at Yale University, Cambridge University, and Syracuse University. Messud resides in Cambridge, Massachusetts with her family.
In "When the World Was Steady" by Claire Messud, sisters Emmy and Virginia Simpson seek fulfillment in their divergent lives. After her marriage ends, Emmy leaves Sydney for Bali to find herself, but becomes entangled with a group of international smugglers. Meanwhile, Virginia, rooted in London and yearning for more, is encouraged by her mother to visit the Isle of Skye. On these distant islands, the sisters confront their destinies, leading to unexpected outcomes. Messud's narrative explores themes of self-discovery and transformation against exotic backdrops.
