Kate Atkinson
Encyclopedia
Kate Atkinson MBE
(born 1951) is an English author.
She was born in York
, and studied English Literature
at the University of Dundee
, gaining her Masters Degree in 1974. She subsequently studied for a doctorate
in American Literature
. She has often spoken publicly about the fact that she failed at the viva (oral examination) stage. After leaving university, she took on a variety of jobs from home help to legal secretary and teacher. She lived in Whitby
, North Yorkshire
, for a time, but now lives in Edinburgh
.
Her first novel, Behind the Scenes at the Museum
, won the 1995 Whitbread Book of the Year ahead of Salman Rushdie's The Moor's Last Sigh
and Roy Jenkins
's biography of William Ewart Gladstone
. It went on to be a Sunday Times bestseller. Since then, she has published another five novels, one play, and one collection of short stories. Her work is often celebrated for its wit, wisdom and subtle characterisation, and the surprising twists and plot turns. Her most recent work has featured the popular former detective Jackson Brodie. She has frequently criticised the media's coverage of her work - when she won Whitbread, for example, it was the fact that she was a "single mother" who lived outside London that garnered the most attention.
In 2009, she donated the short story Lucky We Live Now to Oxfam's "Ox-Tales
" project, four collections of UK stories written by 38 authors. Atkinson's story was published in the Earth collection.
In March 2010, Atkinson appeared at the York Literature Festival, giving a world-premier reading from an early chapter from her forthcoming novel Started Early, Took My Dog, which is set mainly in the English city of Leeds
.
Atkinson was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2011 Birthday Honours
for services to literature.
as Brodie.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(born 1951) is an English author.
She was born in York
York
York is a walled city, situated at the confluence of the Rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. The city has a rich heritage and has provided the backdrop to major political events throughout much of its two millennia of existence...
, and studied English Literature
English literature
English literature is the literature written in the English language, including literature composed in English by writers not necessarily from England; for example, Robert Burns was Scottish, James Joyce was Irish, Joseph Conrad was Polish, Dylan Thomas was Welsh, Edgar Allan Poe was American, J....
at the University of Dundee
University of Dundee
The University of Dundee is a university based in the city and Royal burgh of Dundee on eastern coast of the central Lowlands of Scotland and with a small number of institutions elsewhere....
, gaining her Masters Degree in 1974. She subsequently studied for a doctorate
Doctorate
A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder to teach in a specific field, A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder...
in American Literature
American literature
American literature is the written or literary work produced in the area of the United States and its preceding colonies. For more specific discussions of poetry and theater, see Poetry of the United States and Theater in the United States. During its early history, America was a series of British...
. She has often spoken publicly about the fact that she failed at the viva (oral examination) stage. After leaving university, she took on a variety of jobs from home help to legal secretary and teacher. She lived in Whitby
Whitby
Whitby is a seaside town, port and civil parish in the Scarborough borough of North Yorkshire, England. Situated on the east coast of Yorkshire at the mouth of the River Esk, Whitby has a combined maritime, mineral and tourist heritage, and is home to the ruins of Whitby Abbey where Caedmon, the...
, North Yorkshire
North Yorkshire
North Yorkshire is a non-metropolitan or shire county located in the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England, and a ceremonial county primarily in that region but partly in North East England. Created in 1974 by the Local Government Act 1972 it covers an area of , making it the largest...
, for a time, but now lives in Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
.
Her first novel, Behind the Scenes at the Museum
Behind the Scenes at the Museum
Behind the Scenes at the Museum is the first novel of Kate Atkinson. The book covers the experiences of Ruby Lennox from a middle-class English family living in York....
, won the 1995 Whitbread Book of the Year ahead of Salman Rushdie's The Moor's Last Sigh
The Moor's Last Sigh
The Moor's Last Sigh is the fifth novel by Salman Rushdie, and was published in 1995. Set in the Indian cities of Bombay and Cochin , it is the first major work that Rushdie produced after the The Satanic Verses affair, and thus is referential to that circumstance in many ways, especially the...
and Roy Jenkins
Roy Jenkins
Roy Harris Jenkins, Baron Jenkins of Hillhead OM, PC was a British politician.The son of a Welsh coal miner who later became a union official and Labour MP, Roy Jenkins served with distinction in World War II. Elected to Parliament as a Labour member in 1948, he served in several major posts in...
's biography of William Ewart Gladstone
William Ewart Gladstone
William Ewart Gladstone FRS FSS was a British Liberal statesman. In a career lasting over sixty years, he served as Prime Minister four separate times , more than any other person. Gladstone was also Britain's oldest Prime Minister, 84 years old when he resigned for the last time...
. It went on to be a Sunday Times bestseller. Since then, she has published another five novels, one play, and one collection of short stories. Her work is often celebrated for its wit, wisdom and subtle characterisation, and the surprising twists and plot turns. Her most recent work has featured the popular former detective Jackson Brodie. She has frequently criticised the media's coverage of her work - when she won Whitbread, for example, it was the fact that she was a "single mother" who lived outside London that garnered the most attention.
In 2009, she donated the short story Lucky We Live Now to Oxfam's "Ox-Tales
Ox-Tales
Ox-Tales refers to four anthologies of short stories written by 38 of the UK's best known authors. All the authors donated their stories to Oxfam...
" project, four collections of UK stories written by 38 authors. Atkinson's story was published in the Earth collection.
In March 2010, Atkinson appeared at the York Literature Festival, giving a world-premier reading from an early chapter from her forthcoming novel Started Early, Took My Dog, which is set mainly in the English city of Leeds
Leeds
Leeds is a city and metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire, England. In 2001 Leeds' main urban subdivision had a population of 443,247, while the entire city has a population of 798,800 , making it the 30th-most populous city in the European Union.Leeds is the cultural, financial and commercial...
.
Atkinson was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2011 Birthday Honours
2011 Birthday Honours
The Birthday Honours 2011 for the Commonwealth Realms were announced on 7 June 2011 in New Zealand and 11 June 2011 in United Kingdom to celebrate the Queen's Birthday of 2011.-Privy Councillors:...
for services to literature.
Novels
- Behind the Scenes at the MuseumBehind the Scenes at the MuseumBehind the Scenes at the Museum is the first novel of Kate Atkinson. The book covers the experiences of Ruby Lennox from a middle-class English family living in York....
(1995) Winner of the 1995 Whitbread Prize - Human CroquetHuman CroquetHuman Croquet is the second novel of Kate Atkinson. The book covers the experiences of Isobel Fairfax, including her occasional bouts of time-travelling, while setting out the legacy of a 300 year old family curse.- External links :...
(1997) - Emotionally WeirdEmotionally WeirdEmotionally Weird is the third novel by Kate Atkinson published in 2000. The novel begins with chapter one of a murder mystery set in a seaside resort. This tale is later revealed as being written by Euphemia Stuart-Murray as part of a creative writing class at the University of Dundee in 1972...
(2000) - Featuring Jackson Brodie (former police inspector, now private investigator):
- Case HistoriesCase HistoriesCase Histories is a 2004 detective novel by Kate Atkinson set in Cambridge, England. It introduces Jackson Brodie, a former police inspector and now private investigator...
(2004) - One Good TurnOne Good Turn (novel)One Good Turn is a 2006 crime novel by Kate Atkinson set in Edinburgh during the Festival. 'People queuing for a lunchtime show witness a brutal road rage incident - an incident that changes the lives of everyone involved.' It is the second novel to feature former private investigator Jackson...
(2006) - When Will There Be Good News? (2008)
- Started Early, Took My Dog (2010)
- Case Histories
Story collections
- Not the End of the WorldNot the End of the World (short story collection)This article is about Kate Atkinson's book of short stories. For Geraldine McCaughrean's young adult novel, see Not the End of the World ; for Christopher Brookmyre's crime novel, see Not the End of the World ...
(2002)
Television adaptations
The first three Jackson Brodie novels have been adapted by other writers for the BBC under the series title Case Histories, featuring Jason IsaacsJason Isaacs
Jason Isaacs is an English actor born in Liverpool, who is best known for his performance as the villain Lucius Malfoy in the Harry Potter films, the brutal Colonel William Tavington in The Patriot and as lifelong criminal Michael Caffee in the internationally broadcast American television series...
as Brodie.
Awards
- 1995 Whitbread Book of the Year: Behind the Scenes at the MuseumBehind the Scenes at the MuseumBehind the Scenes at the Museum is the first novel of Kate Atkinson. The book covers the experiences of Ruby Lennox from a middle-class English family living in York....
- 2009 Crime Thriller Award for The CWA Gold Dagger: When Will There Be Good News? (nominated)
- 2009 British Book Awards, "Richard and Judy Bookclub Winner": When Will There Be Good News?
External links
- Official website
- One Good Turn Reviews at MetacriticMetacriticMetacritic.com is a website that collates reviews of music albums, games, movies, TV shows and DVDs. For each product, a numerical score from each review is obtained and the total is averaged. An excerpt of each review is provided along with a hyperlink to the source. Three colour codes of Green,...
- Kate Atkinson talking about One Good Turn at MeetTheAuthor.co.uk
- John Mullan talks to Kate Atkinson about Behind the Scenes at The Museum for The GuardianThe GuardianThe Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
Book Club podcast.