Monica Ali facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Monica Ali
CBE FRSL
|
|
|---|---|
Ali at the British Library in 2023
|
|
| Born | 20 October 1967 Dacca, East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) |
| Occupation |
|
| Nationality | British |
| Education | Bolton School |
| Alma mater | Wadham College, Oxford |
| Spouse | Simon Torrance |
| Children | 2 |
Monica Ali (born October 20, 1967) is a British writer. She has a background from both Bangladesh and England. In 2003, she was named one of the "Best of Young British Novelists" by Granta magazine. This was before her first book was even published!
Her first novel, Brick Lane, came out later that year. It was nominated for the important Man Booker Prize. Later, a movie was made based on the book. Monica Ali has written five novels in total. Her latest book, Love Marriage, was published in 2022 and quickly became a bestseller. In 2024, she received a special award called the Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) for her contributions to literature.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Monica Ali was born in 1967 in Dhaka, which was then called East Pakistan and is now Bangladesh. Her father was Bangladeshi, and her mother was English. When Monica was three years old, her family moved to Bolton, England. Her father's family came from the Mymensingh District in Bangladesh.
Monica went to Bolton School for her education. After that, she studied philosophy, politics, and economics at Wadham College, Oxford, a famous university.
Brick Lane Novel
Brick Lane is a well-known street in London. It is a central place for the Bangladeshi community there. Monica Ali's 2003 novel, also called Brick Lane, tells the story of a young woman named Nazneen. Nazneen moves to London from Bangladesh when she is 18 years old. She comes to marry an older man named Chanu.
They live in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. At first, Nazneen knows only a few English words like "sorry" and "thank you." The book explores how she learns to live in this new community. It also looks at the character of Chanu and the wider Bangladeshi community in London. The story also includes letters from Nazneen's sister, Hasina, which share her experiences.
Brick Lane Film Controversy
In 2006, when a movie was being made based on Brick Lane, some people in the Bangladeshi community were not happy. They did not want parts of the film to be shot in the Brick Lane area. They felt the movie showed their community in a negative or stereotypical way. They believed it did not truly represent their rich history and culture.
Some people, like writer Germaine Greer, supported the community's concerns. She wrote that many British people did not know much about the Bangladeshi community. She felt the book's portrayal might become the main way people saw them. She also mentioned that Monica Ali had not spent much time in the Brick Lane community. Another writer, Salman Rushdie, disagreed with Greer. He said her comments were "disgraceful."
Love Marriage Novel
After a break from writing for ten years, Monica Ali released her fifth novel, Love Marriage, in 2022. She had mentioned in an interview that she had lost some confidence during this time. Love Marriage is set in London between 2016 and 2017. It tells the story of Yasmin Ghorami, a 26-year-old junior doctor. Yasmin is engaged to marry another doctor named Joe Sangster.
Many critics praised Love Marriage. One reviewer called it a "rich, sensitive and gloriously entertaining novel." Another said it was "wildly entertaining" and "a bold and generous book." The book quickly became a bestseller. The television rights for Love Marriage have been sold to New Pictures. The book is now being developed into a TV show for the BBC. In 2023, Love Marriage was also nominated for the Comedy Women in Print Prize.
Monica Ali's Views and Work
Monica Ali has spoken about important topics. She was against a law the British government tried to pass in 2006 called the Racial and Religious Hatred Act 2006. She wrote about this in a collection of essays.
She also wrote an article for The Guardian newspaper. In it, she talked about the reactions to the Brick Lane film.
From 2015 to 2020, Monica Ali was a trustee for the Saint Giles Trust. This charity helps people who have been in prison and other people who need support. She wrote about how important it is to help prisoners when they are released. In 2020, she became a Patron of Hopscotch Women's Centre. This charity helps women and girls from ethnic minority backgrounds. It works to help them achieve their full potential.
Marks & Spencer's Campaign
In 2013, Monica Ali was chosen to be part of a special advertising campaign for Marks & Spencer, a well-known British store. The campaign was called 'Womanism' and featured "Britain's leading ladies." Monica Ali appeared alongside other famous British women. These included pop singer Ellie Goulding, Olympic boxer Nicola Adams, and actress Helen Mirren.
Personal Life
Monica Ali lives in South London with her husband, Simon Torrance. He works as a management consultant. They have two children together.
Books by Monica Ali
- Brick Lane (2003)
- The Weekenders: Adventures in Calcutta (short story) (2004)
- The End of the Affair (introduction) (2004)
- Free Expression is No Offence (essay) (2005)
- Alentejo Blue (2006)
- The Painter of Signs (introduction) (2006)
- In the Kitchen (2009)
- Untold Story (2011)
- Dangerous Edges of Graham Greene (afterword) (2011)
- Closure: Contemporary Black British Short Stories (short story) (2015)
- Refugee Tales III (essay) (2019)
- Love Marriage (2022)
See also
- British Bangladeshi
- List of British Bangladeshis
- List of English writers
