Hilary Spurling facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Hilary Spurling
CBE FRSL
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|---|---|
| Born |
Susan Hilary Forrest
25 December 1940 |
| Alma mater | Somerville College, Oxford |
| Occupation | Writer |
| Spouse(s) |
John Spurling (m. 1961)
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| Awards | Rose Mary Crawshay Prize Duff Cooper Prize Whitbread Prize James Tait Black Memorial Prize |
Susan Hilary Spurling (born 25 December 1940) is a British writer. She is well-known for her work as a journalist and for writing biographies. Biographies are books about the lives of real people.
Contents
About Susan Spurling
Susan Spurling was born in Stockport, Cheshire, England. Her father, Gilbert Alexander Forrest, was a judge. Her mother, Emily Maureen, was a teacher. Susan went to Clifton High School in Bristol. Later, she studied at Somerville College, Oxford, which is a famous university.
What Does Susan Spurling Write About?
Susan Spurling is famous for writing detailed biographies. She has written about many interesting people. One of her most famous works is a two-volume biography of the artist Henri Matisse. She also wrote about the author Pearl S. Buck.
Her Writing Career
Susan Spurling has had a successful career as a writer. She has won several important awards for her books. In 2006, she won the Whitbread Prize for her second book about Henri Matisse. This award is one of the biggest literary prizes in the UK.
Her book Burying The Bones: Pearl Buck in China was published in 2010. This book tells the story of Pearl Buck's life in China.
Personal Life
In 1961, Susan Spurling married John Spurling. He is a playwright, which means he writes plays for the theatre. Susan and John have three children together. Their names are Amy, Nathaniel, and Gilbert.
Main Books and Works
Susan Spurling has written many books. Here are some of her notable works:
- Ivy When Young: The Early Life of Ivy Compton-Burnett (1974) – This book is about the early life of another writer.
- Elinor Fettiplace's Receipt Book: Elizabethan Country House Cooking (1986) – This is a unique book about old recipes.
- Paul Scott: A Life (1990) – A biography of the novelist Paul Scott.
- The Unknown Matisse: Volume 1 – A Life of Henri Matisse 1869–1908 (1998) – The first part of her major work on Matisse.
- Matisse the Master: The Conquest of Colour 1909–1954 (2005) – The second part of her Matisse biography, which won an award.
- Burying the Bones: Pearl Buck in China (2010) – Her book about Pearl Buck's life.
- Anthony Powell: Dancing to the Music of Time (2017) – A book about the author Anthony Powell.
Awards and Recognition
Susan Spurling has received several awards for her writing:
- 1976: The Rose Mary Crawshay Prize for Ivy When Young.
- 1984: The Duff Cooper Prize for Ivy When Young.
- 2005: The Whitbread Book of the Year award for Matisse the Master. This is a very important award in the UK.
- 2010: The James Tait Black Memorial Prize for biography, for her book Burying the Bones: Pearl Buck in China.
