Normal People

novel by Rooney

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

July 22, 2026

Quick Summary

Normal People is a 2018 novel by Irish author Sally Rooney. The novel follows the complex and evolving romantic relationship between two main characters, Connell and Marianne, who navigate their connection across different social classes and personal experiences. Rooney uses their story to explore themes of class inequality, intimacy, identity, and patriarchy in the 21st century. The novel was adapted into a popular television miniseries in 2020, starring Paul Mescal as Connell.123

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

3 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

Sally Rooney
Normal People
Rooney’s second novel, Normal People, published in 2018, tracks the unshakable yet warped romantic relationship between two main characters, Connell and Marianne. The pair serve as a vessel to convey themes of class inequality, patriarchy, and identity. Rooney also cowrote a television adaptation of Normal People produced for…
Read More
Rooney’s second novel, Normal People, published in 2018, tracks the unshakable yet warped romantic relationship between two main characters, Connell and Marianne. The pair serve as a vessel to convey themes of class inequality, patriarchy, and identity. Rooney also cowrote a television adaptation of Normal People produced for…
Read More

Irish literature
The 21st century
In 2018 she published Normal People, which made her a literary star. The story of an intense relationship between two people of different social classes, Normal People tapped into topical discussions about class inequality, patriarchy, intimacy, and identity.
Read More
In 2018 she published Normal People, which made her a literary star. The story of an intense relationship between two people of different social classes, Normal People tapped into topical discussions about class inequality, patriarchy, intimacy, and identity.
Read More