Smith, Zadie: *1975
On Beauty, 2005 - Information about the Book
- General Information
- The story shows an interracial family living in a university town, whose misadventures in the culture wars serve to penetrate everything from family life to political correctness to the combustive collision between the personal and the political. It is loosely based on Howards End by E. M. Forster.
- Information from Wikipedia
- Information from Britannica
- Smith’s mixed-race background plays a crucial role in her exploration of identity in “On Beauty.” She has reflected on how reading works like “Their Eyes Were Watching God” helped her understand the experiences of black women, which influenced her portrayal of characters in the novel.
Smith has also acknowledged the influence of E.M. Forster’s “Howards End” on “On Beauty.”
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- Facts
Some of the most notable awards are:Orange Prize for Fiction in 2006
Anisfield-Wolf Book Award for Fiction in 2006
The Commonwealth Writers' Best Book Award (Eurasia Section) in 2006
The novel was also selected by The New York Times as one of the 10 Best Books of 2005
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- "On Beauty" has been generally well-received by critics and readers alike. Critics have lauded Smith's writing style, particularly her wit, sharp dialogue, and rich character development.
The novel is celebrated for its exploration of themes such as race, class, politics, and family dynamics. It delves into issues of identity and cultural conflict, which resonate with many readers.
"On Beauty" is seen as a homage to E.M. Forster's "Howards End," and this intertextuality has been appreciated by readers familiar with Forster's work.
Many readers find "On Beauty" engaging and thought-provoking. It has been praised for its readability and the way it tackles serious themes with a light touch. While the novel is generally well-liked, some readers have noted its dense prose and the slow pacing in parts, which may not appeal to everyone.
Overall, "On Beauty" is regarded as a significant work in contemporary literature, admired for its insightful exploration of social issues and its richly drawn characters. Zadie Smith's ability to blend humor with serious themes has made the novel a standout piece in her oeuvre.
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- Reader Rating:
- Author
- An Evening with Zadie Smith. Host: Georg Diez. SwissEduc. Zurich; October 2, 2006
- Zadie Smith talks to John Mullan about "On Beauty." The Guardian Podcast; July 17, 2006
- Podcast
Conversation about "On Beauty" and what a novel is.
- An Evening with Zadie Smith. Host: Georg Diez. SwissEduc. Zurich; October 2, 2006
- Commentary
- Zadie Smith’s "On Beauty" is a rich, multilayered exploration of family dynamics, identity, and the concept of beauty in a modern, multicultural world. Inspired by E.M. Forster’s "Howards End,"" the novel juxtaposes two ideologically opposed families: the liberal Belseys and the conservative Kippses. Through their interactions, Smith examines themes of race, class, art, and morality.
The narrative centers on Howard Belsey, a Rembrandt scholar grappling with personal and professional failures, and his wife Kiki, whose grounded perspective contrasts Howard’s abstract intellectualism. Their children—Jerome, Zora, and Levi—navigate their own struggles with identity and belonging. The novel’s humor and emotional depth are balanced by its critique of academia, cultural clashes, and the fragility of human relationships.
Smith’s prose is both satirical and compassionate, offering a nuanced portrayal of flawed characters while questioning societal values and the nature of beauty itself.
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- Reviews
- Book Review: "There isn’t one protagonist in this novel – it is told through many voices and we get to see the academic, insular world of an East Coast American University from various perspectives". Created to Read; May 23, 2017
- Book Review: ""On Beauty" deserves its status as a modern literary classic. I might even give "Howards End" another chance one day". A Little Blog of Books; January 12, 2025
- Campus Novel Book Review: "We cannot call it a hardcore sexist novel where the blacks are shown virtuous and the whites are shown wicked but it can be defined under various literary theories." York University
- Explanations
- A thing of beauty: ""On Beauty" confirms Zadie Smith as a writer of remarkable wit and originality". Stephanie Merritt. Guardian Unlimited; September 4, 2005
- Audio (37:27)
"On Beauty" and Difference. NPR Radio; October 17, 2005 - A Thing of Beauty?: "On Beauty, although imperfect, is teaming with energy, insight and ambition. Indeed, in many places it achieves an accomplished balance between the brilliantly comic and the more negative implications arising from characters that live solely for others". Andrew Hay, Balliol College
- Two descriptions of the same place, which appear at different stages in the novel. Although the place is the same, Smith is able to advance the story just by changing the sensory details on which she and her characters focus.
- Podcast
Recreation of the social world of an elite liberal arts college, exploring issues through nuanced satire on race, class, and beauty.
- Inspired by "Howards End"
- Zadie Smith used Forster’s novel "Howards End" as a structural and thematic model, adapting its exploration of social class and personal relationships to address contemporary issues of race and beauty.
- "On Beauty" compared to "Howards End."
- Zadie Smith’s Use of E.M. Forster in "On Beauty": "Smith updates Forster’s themes and blends the "Howards End" material with the generic conventions of the campus novel." Lourdes Lopez-Ropero, University of Alicante, Spain; 2010
- Zadie Smith imitates more than the plot of "Howards End": "The verbal parallels lead the reader into an episode where imitation is painstaking." The Guardian; July 8, 2006
- A Classic Couple: Howards End and On Beauty: "Both of these novels primarily focus on dynamics between different families as well as between members of the same family." Nut Free Nerd; March 14, 2018