Diana Evans facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Diana Evans FRSL
Born	1972 (age 52–53) Neasden, London, England
Occupation	Novelist
Nationality	British
Alma mater	University of Sussex University of East Anglia
Period	2005–present
Notable works	26a (2005); The Wonder (2009); Ordinary People (2018)
Notable awards	South Bank Sky Arts Award 2019 deciBel Writer of the Year award 2006 Orange Award for New Writers 2005 Betty Trask Award 2005
Relatives	Mary Evans (sister)

Diana Omo Evans is a British writer born in London in 1972. She is a talented novelist, journalist, and critic. Diana Evans has written four novels that have won many awards.

Her first book, 26a, was published in 2005. It won the Orange Award for New Writers, the Betty Trask Award, and the deciBel Writer of the Year award. Her third novel, Ordinary People, was a finalist for the 2019 Women's Prize for Fiction. It also won the 2019 South Bank Sky Arts Award for Literature. Her most recent novel, A House for Alice, came out in 2023.

Besides writing novels, Diana Evans also writes essays and book reviews for newspapers. In 2020, she became a fellow of the Royal Society of Literature. This is a special honor for writers.

Early Life and School

Diana Evans grew up in Neasden, a part of north-west London. Her mother is Nigerian and her father is English. She lived with her parents and five sisters, including her twin sister. She also spent some of her childhood in Lagos, Nigeria.

She studied media studies at the University of Sussex. While she was in Brighton, she was a dancer in an African dance group called Mashango.

Later, she earned a master's degree in creative writing from the University of East Anglia. When she was 25, she started working as a journalist. She wrote interesting stories about people and art for many magazines and newspapers in the UK. She also interviewed famous people and worked as an editor for Pride Magazine.

Diana Evans' Books

Diana Evans is known for her powerful and thoughtful novels. Each book explores different aspects of life and relationships.

26a (2005)

Her first novel, 26a, was published in 2005. It tells the story of identical twin sisters, Georgia and Bessi, who are of Nigerian-British background. The book follows them as they grow up in Neasden. It was praised by many critics and has been translated into 12 languages.

26a was a finalist for the Whitbread Book Award and the Commonwealth Writers' Prize. It was also the first book to win the Orange Award for New Writers. Critics said the book was funny and heartwarming, but also a moving story about growing up and dealing with sadness.

The Wonder (2009)

Diana Evans' second novel, The Wonder, came out in 2009. This book looks at the world of dance. It also explores themes like Caribbean people moving to the UK and changes happening in London. The story focuses on the special connection between a father and son.

One critic described the book as a "serious work of art." They noted that it explores what art means in people's lives. This novel showed that Diana Evans is a truly gifted artist.

Ordinary People (2018)

Her third novel, Ordinary People, was published in 2018. It paints a picture of family life for two Black couples in their 30s living in South London. The story takes place during a year that starts with the election of Barack Obama and ends with the death of Michael Jackson.

Ordinary People won the South Bank Sky Arts Award. It was also a finalist for the Women's Prize for Fiction, the Orwell Prize for Political Fiction, and the Rathbones Folio Prize.

A House for Alice (2023)

Diana Evans' fourth novel, A House for Alice, was released in 2023. This book is seen as one of the first novels to remember the Grenfell Tower fire. It was again a finalist for the Orwell Prize for Political Fiction. Harper's Bazaar magazine called it a "masterpiece" that shows the state of the nation.

Other Work and Contributions

As a journalist, Diana Evans has written essays and book reviews for many well-known publications. These include Marie Claire, The Independent, The Guardian, and Harper's Bazaar.

She also teaches creative writing at Goldsmiths, University of London. She supports the SI Leeds Literary Prize, which helps Black and Asian women in the UK who write unpublished fiction. She has also been a fellow at the London College of Fashion and the University of Kent.

Awards and Honors

Diana Evans has received many awards for her writing. Here are some of her notable achievements:

• 2005: Orange Award for New Writers, for 26a (Winner)
• 2005: Betty Trask Award, for 26a (Winner)
• 2006: deciBel Writer of the Year award, for 26a (Winner)
• 2019: South Bank Sky Arts Award, for Ordinary People (Winner)
• 2019: Women's Prize for Fiction, for Ordinary People (Shortlist)
• 2020: Elected a fellow of the Royal Society of Literature