Téa Obreht on Writing a Layered, Intertextual Tale of the American West
Belgrade-born Téa Obreht’s first novel, The Tiger’s Wife (2011), set against the landscape of the former Yugoslavia, blended myth, village life, wartime strife and deep grandfather-granddaughter love into a marvel that won her the Orange Prize for Fiction at the
Belgrade-born author Téa Obreht has crafted a layered, intertextual tale in her latest novel, Sunrise, set in the American West. The novel intertwines stories from 2024, 2003, and 1902, with characters moving between them. The opening scene depicts a woman falling out of a plane into a lake, challenged by the reader as Nina struggles to survive after the terrifying event.
Obreht revealed that the opening was challenging to write, but accepting the unfamiliarity of Nina's background made the writing process more liberating. The novel explores the aftermath of Nina's survival, with other characters weaving through her journey. The title, Sunrise, Wyoming, is based on a revelation during a plane ride, connecting the novel's themes and characters.
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