Andrea Stuart facts for kids

Andrea Stuart (born 1962) is a talented historian and writer. She has both Barbadian and British roots. Andrea grew up in the Caribbean and the United Kingdom. Today, she lives and works in the UK.

Her book about Josephine Bonaparte is called The Rose of Martinique. It won a special award, the Enid McLeod Literary Prize, in 2004. Andrea Stuart mostly writes non-fiction books. However, she has mentioned working on a novel set in the 1700s.

Andrea Stuart's Early Life and Education

Andrea Stuart was born in Jamaica in 1962. Her parents were from Barbados. She spent many of her early years in Jamaica. Her father was a dean at the medical school there.

In 1976, when she was 14, her family moved to England. Andrea went on to study English at the University of East Anglia. She also studied French at the Sorbonne. After her studies, she started her career as a journalist. Later, she worked in publishing and made TV documentaries.

Andrea Stuart's Books and Writing Career

Andrea Stuart has written several interesting books. Her writing often explores history and people's lives. She is known for her detailed research.

Her First Book: Showgirls

Stuart's first book, Showgirls, came out in 1996. It tells the stories of many famous showgirls throughout history. These include people like Colette and Marlene Dietrich. It also features Josephine Baker and Madonna.

In 1998, the book was turned into a two-part TV show. This documentary aired on the Discovery Channel. Showgirls has also inspired stage shows and dance performances.

The Rose of Martinique: A Biography of Josephine

In 2003, Andrea Stuart published her second book. It was titled The Rose of Martinique: A Biography of Napoleon's Josephine. This book tells the life story of Josephine Bonaparte. She was the wife of the famous leader Napoleon.

Reviewers praised the book for being "unfailingly interesting." It was also called a "comprehensive and truly empathetic biography." The book won the Enid McLeod Literary Prize in 2004. It has been translated into many different languages.

Sugar in the Blood: A Family History

Stuart's most recent book is Sugar in the Blood: A Family’s Story of Slavery and Empire. It was published in 2012 and received much praise. The book explores the history of the Caribbean. It focuses on how sugar farming and past events shaped the region.

Andrea Stuart tells this story through her own family's experiences. She researched seven generations of her family, starting from the 1600s. She learned about their lives and how they were connected to the history of the Caribbean.

Critics loved how she wove together family stories with wider history. One reviewer said the book had "fiery magic." Another called it a "riveting story of family, slavery and the sugar trade." It was also described as a "magisterial work of history."

Other Writing Contributions

Andrea Stuart's writing has appeared in many places. You can find her work in newspapers and magazines. She has also contributed to different collections of writings. One example is New Daughters of Africa (2019).

She has also worked as an editor. She was a co-editor for Black Film Bulletin. She also served as the fiction editor for Critical Quarterly.

Awards and Special Recognition

Andrea Stuart has received several awards for her writing. These honors show how important her work is.

In 2004, she won the Enid McLeod Literary Prize. This award was for her book The Rose of Martinique.

Her book Sugar in the Blood was also recognized. It was a finalist for the 2013 OCM Bocas Prize for Caribbean Literature. It was also shortlisted for the Spear's Book Award. The Boston Globe newspaper named it a top non-fiction book of 2013.

In 2014, Ebony magazine featured Andrea Stuart. They named her one of "six Caribbean writers you should discover."

Teaching and Lecturing Roles

Andrea Stuart also shares her knowledge with others. She has taught at Kingston University since 2011. There, she works as a Writer-in-Residence. She has also taught on a biography course at the Arvon Foundation.

She was a writing tutor at the Faber Academy. She led a course called "Writing Family History." Andrea has also been a lecturer at other universities. These include the University of the Arts London and City University London. She also taught at Central Saint Martins.

See also

• Caribbean poetry
• Caribbean literature
• Postcolonial literature