.jpg) First edition | |
| Author | Kaui Hart Hemmings |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Genre | Fiction |
| Publisher | Random House |
Publication date | May 15, 2007 |
| Publication place | United States |
| Media type | |
| Pages | 304 (First Edition) |
| ISBN | 1-4000-6633-6 |
The Descendants is a novel written byKaui Hart Hemmings. The 2011 American filmThe Descendants, directed byAlexander Payne, with the adapted screenplay by Payne,Nat Faxon, andJim Rash,[1] is based on this novel.[2]
Matthew King was once considered one of the most fortunate men in Hawaii. His missionary ancestors were financially and culturally progressive—one even married a Hawaiian princess, making Matt a royal descendant and one of the state's largest landowners.
Now his luck has changed. His two daughters are out of control: Ten-year-old Scottie is a disrespectful troublemaker with a desperate need for attention, and seventeen-year-old Alex, a former model, is a recovering drug addict. Matt's wife, Joanie, lies in a coma after a boat-racing accident and will soon be taken off life support. The Kings can hardly picture life without her, but as they come to terms with this tragedy, their sadness is mixed with a sense of freedom that shames them—and spurs them into surprising actions.
Before honoring Joanie'sliving will, Matt must gather her friends and family to say their final goodbyes, a difficult situation made worse by the sudden discovery that there is one person who has not been told: the man with whom Joanie had been having anextramarital affair, quite possibly the one man she ever truly loved. Forced to examine what he owes not only to the living but to the dead, Matt takes to the road with his daughters to find his wife's lover, a memorable journey that leads to both painful revelations and unforeseen humor and growth.
Bernice Pauahi Bishop was a princess of the Kingdom of Hawaii who married the wealthy mainlanderCharles Reed Bishop. Her estate, theBernice P. Bishop Estate, is now one of America's wealthiest private landholders.
The Descendants was adapted into a film in 2011 byAlexander Payne,Nat Faxon, andJim Rash forFox Searchlight Pictures. It starredGeorge Clooney as Matt,Shailene Woodley as Alex, andMatthew Lillard as Brian Speer. The film was a success both critically and financially and won anAcademy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay, as well as twoGolden Globe Awards forBest Picture – Drama andBest Actor – Drama for Clooney.[3]
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