Ian McEwan's forthcoming novel, The Children Act, will be published on 4 September 2014 by Jonathan Cape. The book explores the contested domains of religion and family life, centring on a high court judge who presides over a case involving parents refusing medical treatment for their sick son due to their religious beliefs.
Speaking at last month's Oxford literary festival, McEwan described the denial of medical help on religious grounds as "utterly perverse and inhumane". He argued that "the secular mind seems far superior in making reasonable judgments". The novelist also praised the 1989 Children's Act, a piece of legislation that enshrines the child's welfare as the paramount consideration in court rulings, calling it a "remarkable and civilised piece of legislation".
McEwan has long been critical of organised religion, stating previously that he has "no patience whatsoever" with faith. He contends that only the secular spirit can guarantee freedoms, and that religion's certainty of its own truth is problematic given the multitude of religions worldwide.
Publisher Dan Franklin described the novel as "classic McEwan, demonstrating yet again his extraordinary ability to speak to both head and heart". McEwan's career began in 1975 with the short story collection First Love, Last Rites, and he has since published numerous acclaimed works, including the Booker Prize-winning Amsterdam in 1998.
