Christine Brooke-Rose facts for kids

Christine Brooke-Rose (born January 16, 1923 – died March 21, 2012) was a British writer and literary critic. She was best known for her unique and experimental novels.

Christine Brooke-Rose's Early Life and Education

Christine Brooke-Rose was born in Geneva, Switzerland. Her father was English, and her mother was American-Swiss. After her parents separated in 1929, Christine grew up mostly in Brussels with her grandparents.

She attended St Stephen's College, Broadstairs and later studied at Somerville College, Oxford. She also earned a PhD from University College, London.

Working During World War II

During World War II, Christine joined the WAAF. She first worked at RAF Thornaby, recording flight information. Because she spoke fluent German, she was soon sent to Bletchley Park. This was a secret British code-breaking center.

At Bletchley Park, Christine helped assess intercepted German messages. Her own novel, Remake, shares some of her experiences during this time.

Life After the War and Teaching Career

After the war, Christine completed her English degree at Somerville College, Oxford. She then worked as a literary journalist and scholar in London.

In 1968, she moved to France. She taught at the University of Paris, Vincennes from 1968 to 1988. In 1975, she became a professor of English and American literature. She retired in 1988 and moved to the south of France, near Avignon.

Christine Brooke-Rose's Creative Works

Christine Brooke-Rose later said that her time at Bletchley Park helped her become a novelist. It made her think about different viewpoints and perspectives.

Notable Novels and Translations

She was awarded the James Tait Black Memorial Prize for fiction for her novel Such (1966).

Christine was also a talented translator. In 1969, she won the Arts Council Translation Prize. This was for her translation of Alain Robbe-Grillet's book, Dans le labyrinthe, which means In the Labyrinth.

Her novel Remake (1996) is a special kind of autobiographical novel. It uses parts of her own life to create a story told in the third person. It explores how memory can change things and how feelings from her childhood shaped her. The book captures the feelings of a child during wartime, not just the facts.

Exploring Science and Humanities in Xorandor

Another important novel by Brooke-Rose is Xorandor (1986). This book, like others from the 1980s and 90s, explored how science and scientists were seen in society.

Xorandor suggests that trying to keep science and the humanities separate is not helpful. It argues that these two areas, reason and imagination, should work together. The novel shows that understanding both can lead to new ways of seeing the world.

Awards and Honors for Christine Brooke-Rose

Christine Brooke-Rose received several awards for her writing and translations:

• 1965: Society of Authors Traveling Prize, for Out
• 1966: James Tait Black Memorial Prize, for Such
• 1969: Arts Council Translation Prize, for In the Labyrinth