Author Claire Messud Calls Timothée Chalamet Her Dream Cast For ‘Books That Feel Humanly True’ (Exclusive)

Mar. 15, 2025

Claire Messud in 2024.Photo:Franco Origlia/Getty

Franco Origlia/Getty

“But I think for me, the aim is to write books that feel humanly true, and that are in that sense achieved, rather than focusing on the marketplace,” the author adds. “So I feel very lucky to have been able to do that in a world that maybe cares less and less about that as a goal.”

The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now!The author’s latest novel,This Strange Eventful History, was published in May and was longlisted for the Booker Prize. Messud also notes that though she feels “very lucky” to have had the bestseller experience, it is still a confounding one.

courtesy

“It’s a weird experience because it’s not real, in some way,” Messud says, of the accolades she’s received. “It’s not people who are choosing what to read. They’re reading something because somebody told them. They read it the way you do math homework. Maybe less onerous than that.”

“With [This Strange Eventful History] I’ve had probably a dozen letters from people who said, ‘This was really meaningful to me.’ And some from people I know a little bit, but also from people I’ve never met,” Messud adds. “And that means a lot to me.”Success also appears in different ways, the author notes. Messud says thatThe Emperor’s Childrenwas optioned for film, and has seen different iterations over the years (the film is currently in development,according to IMDb). Messud, however, says that the process was still an informative experience for her.

Claire Messud in 2014.Ulf Andersen/Getty

Ulf Andersen/Getty

“That was instructive because just the very fact that it was so fantastical,” Messud says. “And it all just seemed very pretend.”

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.Messud also says that she has some dream casting in mind forThis Strange Eventful History, if it were to be adapted for the screen. She says that she could seeTimothée Chalametas the character, Francois.“For the Barbara character, she’s Canadian, and I can’t help but think ofRachel McAdams, who is also Canadian,” Messud says, adding, “It’s a fun game to play.”

source: people.com