Bernice Rubens facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Bernice Rubens
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| Born | 26 July 1923 Splott, Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom |
| Died | 13 October 2004 (aged 81) |
| Occupation | Novelist |
| Language | English |
| Citizenship | British |
| Education | Cardiff High School for Girls |
| Alma mater | Cardiff University |
| Genre | Novel |
| Notable awards | Booker Prize |
| Spouse | Rudi Nassbauer |
Bernice Rubens (born July 26, 1923 – died October 13, 2004) was a famous Welsh novelist. She made history by becoming the first woman to win the important Booker Prize in 1970. She won this award for her book The Elected Member.
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About Bernice Rubens' Life
Bernice Ruth Reuben was born in a place called Splott in Cardiff, Wales. This was on July 26, 1923. She was the third of four children in her family. Her father, Eli Reuben, was a Lithuanian Jew. He left Europe in 1900 when he was 16 years old. He hoped to start a new life in New York City.
However, he was tricked by someone selling tickets. So, he never made it to America. His journey only took him as far as Cardiff. He decided to stay in Wales. There, he met and married Dorothy Cohen, whose family also came from Poland.
A Family of Musicians
Bernice grew up in a very musical family. Both of her brothers, Harold and Cyril, became well-known classical musicians. Harold had to stop playing because of an illness. But Cyril became a violinist in the famous London Symphony Orchestra.
Bernice did not become a musician like her brothers at first. However, she later learned to play the cello. She went to Cardiff High School for Girls. After that, she studied English at the University of Wales, Cardiff. She earned her degree there in 1947.
Family Life and Early Career
Bernice married Rudi Nassbauer. He was a wine merchant who also enjoyed writing poetry and stories. They had two daughters named Rebecca and Sharon.
From 1950 to 1955, Bernice Rubens worked as a teacher. She taught at a grammar school in Birmingham. After teaching, she moved into the film industry. There, she helped make documentary films. In the 1960s, a poet named Jon Silkin rented part of their London home. Other writers also stayed there, including David Mercer.
Bernice Rubens' Writing Career
Bernice Rubens published her first novel, Set On Edge, in 1960. She quickly became a respected writer. As mentioned earlier, she achieved a major milestone in 1970. She was the first woman ever to win the prestigious Booker Prize. She won it for her novel The Elected Member. This award is one of the most important literary prizes.
Books Made into Movies and TV Shows
Several of Bernice Rubens' novels were so popular that they were turned into films or television shows.
Madame Sousatzka
Her 1962 novel, Madame Sousatzka, became a movie in 1988. Famous actors like Shabana Azmi and Shirley MacLaine starred in it. This book was inspired by her brother Harold's life. Harold was a child piano genius. The character of Madame Sousatzka was based on his teacher, Madame Maria Levinskaya. Harold Rubens was born in Cardiff in 1918. He started studying with Levinskaya when he was just seven years old.
Other Adaptations
Her 1975 novel, I Sent a Letter To My Love, was made into a film in 1980. It was directed by Moshe Mizraki.
Her 1985 novel, Mr Wakefield's Crusade, was adapted for television. The BBC made it into a TV show in 1992. It starred actors like Peter Capaldi and Michael Maloney.
List of Bernice Rubens' Books
Bernice Rubens wrote many novels throughout her career. Here are some of her well-known works:
- Set on Edge (1960)
- Madame Sousatzka (1962)
- Mate in Three (1966)
- Chosen People (1969)
- The Elected Member (1969) (This book won the Booker Prize for Fiction in 1970)
- Sunday Best (1971)
- Go Tell the Lemming (1973)
- I Sent a Letter To My Love (1975)
- The Ponsonby Post (1977)
- A Five-Year Sentence (1978)
- Spring Sonata (1979)
- Birds of Passage (1981)
- Brothers (1983)
- Mr Wakefield's Crusade (1985)
- Our Father (1987)
- Kingdom Come (1990)
- A Solitary Grief (1991)
- Mother Russia (1992)
- Autobiopsy (1993)
- Hijack (1993)
- Yesterday in the Back Lane (1995)
- The Waiting Game (1997)
- I, Dreyfus (1999)
- Milwaukee (2001)
- Nine Lives (2002)
- The Sergeants' Tale (2003)
- When I Grow Up (2005)
See also
You can find more about Bernice Rubens in Spanish here: Bernice Rubens para niños
