Outline (novel)

Outline is a 2014 novel by British author Rachel Cusk, the first installment in her critically acclaimed The Outline trilogy, followed by Transit (2016) and Kudos (2018).

This experimental work of autobiographical fiction follows an unnamed British novelist traveling to Athens to teach a writing workshop, where her encounters with various characters spark profound conversations about art, relationships, and selfhood. Through these dialogues – recounted in Cusk's signature sparse prose – the novel explores themes of identity, creative expression, and the boundaries between fiction and reality.

Praised for its innovative structure that blurs traditional narrative conventions, Outline received widespread critical acclaim upon release. It was shortlisted for several prestigious literary awards including the Goldsmiths Prize (2014) and Folio Prize (2015), and named one of The New York Times Top 10 Books of 2015. The novel has been recognized as a landmark in contemporary literature, ranking 34th in The Guardian's 100 Best Books Since 2000 and 14th in the New York Times Best Books of the 21st Century (2024). Critics have celebrated its radical approach to storytelling as redefining modern fiction's possibilities.