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April 5, 2026
Life of Pi author Yann Martel: ‘I thought the Iliad was a book for old farts… then I started getting ideas’
The best-selling novelist explains why his new retelling of Homer’s epic offers the ideal antidote to the age of Trump
TL;DR
- Yann Martel, author of 'Life of Pi,' has written a new novel, 'Son of Nobody,' which offers a version of the Trojan War from the perspective of an unknown soldier.
- Martel was initially dismissive of Homer's Iliad but found it captivating, realizing its focus was on elites and prompting him to explore the 'common man's' perspective.
- The novel integrates a modern-day researcher, Harlow Donne, and his personal life through digressive footnotes, balancing scholarly and domestic tones.
- Martel uses historical narratives to offer perspective on current events, suggesting that past challenges have been overcome and providing a historical lens for contemporary anxieties.
- His philosophical background influences his work, aiming to combine the all-encompassing nature of stories with the narrowness of philosophy to ask big questions.
- Martel's previous works, including 'Life of Pi,' gained significant attention for their unique themes and explorations of relationships and spirituality.
- He is also working on a collection of short pieces inspired by his mother's experience with Alzheimer's, focusing on memory, loneliness, and familial bonds.
- Martel views writing fiction as a form of 'magical thinking,' where artists create worlds from disparate elements, akin to a 'small god'.