Anita Shreve facts for kids

Anita Shreve (born October 7, 1946 – died March 29, 2018) was a famous American writer. She was best known for her exciting novels. One of her early stories, Past the Island, Drifting, won an important award called the O. Henry Prize in 1976.

Early Life and School

Anita Shreve was born in Boston. She was the oldest of three daughters. Anita grew up in Dedham, Massachusetts. She went to Dedham High School and finished in 1964.

Her father, Richard Harold Shreve, was an airline pilot. He later became an artist. Her mother, Bibiana Kennedy, stayed home to care for the family.

Anita Shreve went to Tufts University. She was part of the Chi Omega group there.

Her Personal Life

Anita Shreve married Jack Christensen first. He was studying to become a doctor at Harvard Medical School. Later, she met Clay Wescott, her second husband. They were both teachers at Reading Memorial High School.

Anita and Clay lived in Hingham, Massachusetts. They helped build a 41-foot sailboat named Alcyone. It was launched in 1973. Some of Anita's trips on this sailboat later became stories in her books.

In 1975, Anita and Clay got married. They moved to Kenya in Africa. Clay worked there while finishing his PhD. In 1978, they returned to the USA.

In 1980, Anita married John Clemans. He was a photographer she met in Nairobi. They had two children, Christopher and Katherine. In 1999, she married John Osborn. He was an insurance broker. They stayed together until she passed away.

Her Writing Career

Before becoming a full-time writer, Anita Shreve taught at two high schools. She taught at Reading Memorial High School and then at Hingham High School. She really wanted to be a writer, but it was not easy. She and Clay had many rejection letters from publishers.

While in Kenya, Anita worked for Viva Magazine. It was an award-winning magazine. Some of her adventures in Kenya inspired her books. For example, her book A Change in Altitude was about climbing Mount Kenya. In her story, a friend falls off the mountain. In real life, the friend was saved. Anita was a happy person, but her stories often had sad endings.

She also worked as a freelance journalist. In 1999, something big happened. Anita was teaching writing at Amherst College. Famous TV host Oprah Winfrey called her. Oprah chose Anita's novel, The Pilot's Wife, for her book club. After that, Anita's books sold millions of copies around the world.

Some of her books were even made into movies:

• In 2000, The Weight of Water became a movie. It starred famous actors like Sean Penn.
• In 2002, her book Resistance also became a film.
• That same year, The Pilot's Wife was made into a TV movie.

Later Years and Legacy

Anita Shreve died on March 29, 2018. She was 71 years old. She passed away at her home in Newfields, New Hampshire, from cancer.

Her husband, John Osborn, gave a collection of her books to Dedham High School. This was a special gift to her old school. The books are now in the library. They are in a special case with a plaque to remember her.

Awards and Honors

Anita Shreve received several important awards for her writing:

• 2000: Short-listed for the Orange Prize for The Weight of Water
• 1999: Chosen for Oprah Winfrey's Book Club for The Pilot's Wife
• 1998: Won the L.L. Winship/PEN New England Award for The Weight of Water
• 1976: Won the O. Henry Prize for Past the Island, Drifting