Paul West (writer) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Paul West
Paul West in Florida, 2010
Born	Paul Noden West (1930-02-23)23 February 1930 Eckington, Derbyshire, England
Died	18 October 2015(2015-10-18) (aged 85) Ithaca, New York, U.S.
Occupation	Author, professor
Genre	Novels, poetry, memoirs, essays
Spouses	Paula Radcliffe (1960) Diane Ackerman

Paul Noden West (born February 23, 1930 – died October 18, 2015) was a talented writer. He was a novelist, poet, and essayist. Born in Eckington, England, he later became an American citizen. He lived in Ithaca, New York, with his wife, Diane Ackerman. She is also a well-known writer. Paul West wrote over 50 books during his life.

Growing Up and Learning

Paul West grew up in Eckington, a small mining town in England. His father was often out of work. His mother was a skilled pianist. She gave music lessons to help the family.

His mother also encouraged his love for words. She supported his dream of becoming a writer. Paul West said three teachers helped him a lot. They taught English, French, Latin, and Greek. These teachers saw his talent for languages. They helped him learn and grow.

After high school, West studied English at the University of Birmingham. He graduated with honors. Then, he continued his studies at Lincoln College, Oxford. He also studied in the United States at Columbia University. He earned a master's degree there.

From 1954 to 1957, he served in the Royal Air Force. He reached the rank of flight lieutenant. Later, he taught English literature. He taught at Memorial University of Newfoundland and Pennsylvania State University. At Pennsylvania State, he met Diane Ackerman. She later became his wife.

Awards and Honors

Paul West received many important awards for his writing. In 1985, he won an award from the American Academy of Arts and Letters. He also received the Lannan Prize for fiction in 1993.

That same year, he won the Grand-Prix Halpèrine-Kaminsky Prize. This award was for the best foreign book. The New York Public Library called him a "literary lion." This is a special title for important writers. The French government also honored him. They made him a Chevalier of the Order of Arts and Letters.

Later Life

Paul West stopped teaching in 1995. In 2003, he had a stroke. His wife, Diane Ackerman, wrote a book about this time. The book is called One Hundred Names for Love: A Stroke, a Marriage and the Language of Healing.

Paul West passed away on October 18, 2015. He was 85 years old. He died in Ithaca, New York, from pneumonia. He is remembered for his many books and his love for writing.

Paul West's Books

Paul West wrote many different kinds of books. He wrote novels, short stories, poems, and non-fiction.

Long Fiction (Novels)

• A Quality of Mercy, 1961
• Tenement of Clay, 1965
• Alley Jaggers, 1966
• I'm Expecting to Live Quite Soon, 1970
• Caliban's Filibuster, 1971
• Bela Lugosi's White Christmas, 1972
• Colonel Mint, 1972
• Gala, 1976
• The Very Rich Hours of Count von Stauffenberg, 1980
• Rat Man of Paris, 1986
• The Place in Flowers Where Pollen Rests, 1988
• Lord Byron's Doctor, 1989
• The Women of Whitechapel and Jack the Ripper, 1991
• Love's Mansion, 1992
• The Tent of Orange Mist, 1995
• Sporting with Amaryllis, 1996
• Life With Swan, 1997
• Terrestrials, 1997
• OK: The Corral, the Earps and Doc Holliday, 2000
• The Dry Danube: A Hitler Forgery, 2000
• A Fifth of November, 2001
• Cheops: A Cupboard for the Sun, 2002
• The Immensity of the Here and Now: A Novel of 9.11, 2003

Short Fiction

• The Universe and Other Fictions, 1988

Poetry Collections

• Poems, 1952
• The Spellbound Horses, 1960
• The Snow Leopard, 1964
• Alphabet Poetry
• Tea with Osiris, 2006

Non-fiction Books

• The Growth of the Novel: Eight Radio Talks as Heard on CBC University of the Air, 1959
• Byron and the Spoiler's Art, 1960 – 2nd ed. 1992
• I, Said the Sparrow, 1963
• The Modern Novel, 1963
• Robert Penn Warren, 1964
• The Wine of Absurdity: Essays in Literature and Consolation, 1966
• Words for a Deaf Daughter, 1969
• Out of My Depths: A Swimmer in the Universe, 1983
• Sheer Fiction, 1987
• Portable People, 1990
• Sheer Fiction, vol. 2, 1991
• Sheer Fiction, vol. 3, 1994
• James Ensor, 1991
• My Mother's Music, 1996
• A Stroke of Genius: Illness and Self-Discovery, 1995
• The Secret Lives of Words, 2000
• Master Class, Scenes From A Fiction Workshop, 2001
• Oxford Days, 2002
• Sheer Fiction, vol. 4, 2004
• My Father's War, 2005
• The Shadow Factory, 2008

Edited Text

• Byron: A Collection of Critical Essays (Twentieth Century Views series), 1963