Ian McEwan, the award-winning author, has admitted feeling "a little dubious" about people being compelled to study his books, after helping his son with an essay about his own novel and receiving a C.

McEwan, author of works including Atonement, Amsterdam, and On Chesil Beach, said he remained unconvinced about the purpose of asking students to analyse his work.

"I always feel a little dubious about people being made to read my books,' he told Event magazine, saying his son Greg was required to write an A-Level essay on Enduring Love several years ago.

"Compelled to read his dad's book - imagine. Poor guy," McEwan added.

"I confess I did give him a tutorial and told him what he should consider. I didn't read his essay but it turned out his teacher disagreed fundamentally with what he said.