Catherine Called Birdy is a 1994 historical fiction novel by Karen Cushman that won a Newbery Honor, later adapted into a 2022 film written and directed by Lena Dunham and starring Bella Ramsey. The story follows a spirited fourteen-year-old girl in medieval England who resists her father’s attempts to marry her off for financial gain.
The Original Novel and Its Author
Karen Cushman published Catherine, Called Birdy in 1994 through Clarion Books . The novel is written as a diary kept by Catherine, nicknamed Birdy, covering her fourteenth year in 1290 England . Her father, a financially struggling knight, is determined to marry her to a wealthy suitor to resolve his debts .
Birdy uses wit, trickery, and outright rebellion to drive away several would-be husbands . The story culminates with a shaggy-bearded suitor from the north, described as the oldest, ugliest, and most revolting of all, who unfortunately is also the richest . The book received a Newbery Honor in 1995 and was named an American Library Association Notable Children’s Book that same year .
The Film Adaptation and Its Production
Lena Dunham wrote and directed the film adaptation, which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in September 2022 . The film opened in theaters on September 23, 2022, before streaming on Prime Video on October 7, 2022 . Bella Ramsey, known for Game of Thrones and later The Last of Us, plays the lead role .
The supporting cast includes Andrew Scott as Lord Rollo, Billie Piper as Lady Aislinn, Joe Alwyn as Uncle George, and Lesley Sharp, Sophie Okonedo, Isis Hainsworth, Dean-Charles Chapman, and Paul Kaye in additional roles . The Hollywood Reporter noted that Dunham’s sharp dialogue equipped every actor with an acidic tongue and knowing gaze .Quick Bio: Bella Ramsey
Note: Bella Ramsey uses they/them pronouns and identifies as non-binary .
What Changed from Book to Screen
Dunham made significant changes to the novel’s ending, a decision she discussed in interviews during the film’s release . In Cushman’s book, Birdy escapes marriage to Shaggy Beard when he dies, but his son marries her in his place, and she is content believing she will get along better with the younger man .
The film instead has Birdy’s father Lord Rollo track down Shaggy Beard’s carriage and fight him to win Birdy back . Dunham told TheWrap that she wanted to leave Birdy in a better place than the book does, describing the novel’s ending as beautiful but slightly somber and quite realistic . She stated at the Toronto premiere that she had the blessing of author Karen Cushman to make this change .
Critical Reception and Performance
The film received generally favorable reviews, earning a Metascore of 74 on Metacritic based on 34 critic reviews . The Seattle Times called it Dunham’s best writing and directing work yet, describing it as an instant teen classic . IndieWire praised it as raucous, wild, wise, and witty .
Variety specifically highlighted Bella Ramsey’s performance, noting that the film would not have worked half as well without her rowdy contemporary sensibility that makes her instantly relatable . The Associated Press called it an unabashed delight, while Entertainment Weekly described it as a sly fairytale that manages to be both cheeky and modern without losing its heart .Catherine Called Birdy tells the story of a spirited 14-year-old girl in 1290 England who resists the arranged marriages her father arranges to solve his financial problems. The 1994 novel by Karen Cushman won a Newbery Honor, and Lena Dunham adapted it into a 2022 film starring Bella Ramsey.
What Is Catherine Called Birdy About?
The novel is written as a diary kept by Catherine, nicknamed Birdy, covering her fourteenth year at Stonebridge Manor in Lincolnshire. Her father, a financially struggling knight, is determined to marry her to a wealthy suitor to resolve his debts, while Birdy uses wit and trickery to drive away each potential husband. The book explores themes of gender roles, arranged marriage, and a young woman’s fight for autonomy in medieval society.
Who Made the 2022 Film Adaptation?
Lena Dunham wrote and directed the film, which she first read as a ten-year-old and described as a work ingrained in her DNA. The film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in September 2022 and began streaming on Prime Video on October 7, 2022. Bella Ramsey, known for Game of Thrones and The Last of Us, plays Birdy, with Andrew Scott as Lord Rollo and Billie Piper as Lady Aislinn.
How Does the Film Differ from the Book?
The film changes the ending to be more hopeful than the novel’s conclusion. In Cushman’s book, Birdy escapes marriage to the vile suitor Shaggy Beard only when he dies, but his son marries her in his place, and she is content believing she will get along better with the younger man. Dunham told TheWrap she wanted to leave Birdy in a better place, stating: “The book has a beautiful ending, but an ending that’s slightly somber and quite realistic”. Dunham said she had the blessing of author Karen Cushman to make this change.
What Awards Did the Novel Receive?
Catherine, Called Birdy was named a Newbery Honor Book in 1995. It was also chosen as one of School Library Journal’s Best Books of the Year and received the Gold Kite Award for Fiction from the Society for Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. The novel was Karen Cushman’s first book, and she later won the Newbery Medal for The Midwife’s Apprentice in 1996.
What Are the Main Themes of the Story?
The story examines the restrictive roles of gender and class in the medieval era, the importance of identity as young people come of age, and the dominance of religion in medieval society. Birdy’s rebellion against being “sold like cheese to the highest bidder” resonates as a feminist coming-of-age narrative about a girl’s fight for self-determination. Dunham noted that the film emphasizes Birdy’s growing awareness that everyone around her is also trapped by societal expectations.
