Tony and Susan is a novel by American author Austin Wright, first published in 1993. The book was initially released by Baskerville Publishers, a small press, after being rejected by 11 major New York publishers. It later gained wider recognition and was adapted into the 2016 film Nocturnal Animals, directed by Tom Ford.
Plot
The novel operates on two levels. In the "real world" of 1990, Susan Morrow, a 49-year-old English professor, receives a manuscript from her ex-husband, Edward Sheffield, an unpublished writer whom she left 25 years earlier. Over the course of three nights, she reads his novel, titled Nocturnal Animals.
Within the manuscript, the story follows Tony Hastings, a meek mathematician traveling to his country home in Maine with his wife Laura and teenage daughter Helen. They are accosted by three men—Ray, Lou, and Turk—who abduct them. Tony is abandoned in a clearing and later discovers that his wife and daughter have been raped and murdered. The narrative follows Tony's subsequent depression, his involvement with detective Bobby Andes, and his eventual confrontation with the killers, culminating in a violent and ambiguous ending.
As Susan reads, she is forced to reflect on her past relationship with Edward, her affair with her neighbor Arnold (whom she later married), and the choices that shaped her life. She plans to meet Edward to discuss the manuscript, but he never arrives.
Main Characters
Reality:
- Susan Morrow – A 49-year-old English professor and the main reader of the manuscript.
- Edward Sheffield – Susan's ex-husband and the author of Nocturnal Animals.
- Arnold Morrow – Susan's current husband, a successful heart surgeon.
Fictitious (within the manuscript):
- Tony Hastings – The protagonist of Nocturnal Animals, a meek mathematician.
- Laura Hastings – Tony's wife, raped and murdered.
- Helen Hastings – Tony's teenage daughter, raped and murdered.
- Ray, Lou, and Turk – The three antagonists who commit the crimes.
- Bobby Andes – The detective investigating the murders.
Publication History
The novel was first published in hardcover by Baskerville Publishers in 1993. Warner Books (now Grand Central Publishing) acquired paperback rights for $400,000 in a two-day auction, releasing it as a lead paperback fiction title in September 1994. The book was translated into 13 languages and selected by the Book-of-the-Month Club. After a critical revival in the UK in 2010, it was reprinted in the United States. Following the 2016 film adaptation, the book was republished with a new cover and the updated title Nocturnal Animals.
Critical Reception
The novel received positive reviews. Publishers Weekly praised Wright's "sharp prose," and The New York Times called the novel "mesmerising."
Film Adaptation
The novel was adapted into the 2016 film Nocturnal Animals, written and directed by Tom Ford. The film starred Amy Adams as Susan Morrow, Jake Gyllenhaal as Edward Sheffield/Tony Hastings, Michael Shannon as Bobby Andes, and Aaron Taylor-Johnson as Ray. It received positive reviews and multiple award nominations, including a Golden Globe nomination for Best Director and an Academy Award nomination for Michael Shannon for Best Supporting Actor. Aaron Taylor-Johnson won the Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actor for his role.
