Rachel Cusk facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Rachel Cusk
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Cusk in 2024
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| Born | 8 February 1967 Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada |
| Occupation | Author |
| Language | English |
| Education | New College, Oxford |
| Notable works | Aftermath: On Marriage and Separation (2012) The Outline Trilogy: Outline (2014), Transit (2016) & Kudos (2018) |
Rachel Cusk is a well-known British writer and novelist. She was born on February 8, 1967. She is known for her unique writing style and her books that explore modern life.
Contents
Early Life and School
Rachel Cusk was born in Saskatoon, Canada, in 1967. Her parents were British. She was the second of four children. She spent her early childhood years in Los Angeles, USA.
In 1974, her family moved back to Britain. They settled in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk. Rachel grew up in a Catholic family. She went to St Mary's Convent in Cambridge. Later, she studied English at New College, Oxford University.
Her Writing Career
First Books and Themes
Rachel Cusk's first novel was called Saving Agnes. It was published in 1993. This book won the Whitbread First Novel Award. Her early books often explored what it means to be a woman. They also looked at society in a funny, critical way.
In 1997, she released The Country Life. This was a funny novel. It was inspired by other famous books like Cold Comfort Farm and Jane Eyre. It won a Somerset Maugham Award in 1998.
In 2003, she published The Lucky Ones. This book told stories about five different people. Their lives were loosely connected. That same year, Granta magazine named her one of the 20 'Best of Young British Novelists'. Her novel Arlington Park was also nominated for the Orange Prize for Fiction in 2007.
Rachel Cusk also wrote non-fiction books. These books were based on her own experiences. A Life's Work (2001) was about being a mother. Aftermath (2012) talked about her marriage and divorce. She has also taught creative writing at Kingston University.
The Outline Trilogy and Later Works
Rachel Cusk later started writing in a new way. She wanted to share personal experiences. But she wanted to do it without using traditional storytelling. This new project became a series of three novels. They are sometimes called "autobiographical novels" because they feel very personal.
The three books are: Outline (2014), Transit (2016), and Kudos (2018). In these books, the main character is a writer. She travels and talks to many different people. The stories are mostly about these conversations.
Critics praised her new style. Judith Thurman from The New Yorker said Cusk found a way to tell stories without following old rules. Yet, her books still felt exciting. Outline was named one of The New York Times top 5 novels of 2015.
Reviewing Outline, Heidi Julavits said Cusk's writing was very clear and smart. She called Cusk "one of the smartest writers alive." Outline was nominated for several awards, including the Folio Prize.
When Transit came out, critic Helen Dunmore praised Cusk's "brilliant, insightful prose." She said Cusk was working at a very high level. Dwight Garner from The New York Times said Transit offered "transcendental reflections." He was very excited for Kudos, the final book.
Kudos also received many positive reviews. Katy Waldman from The New Yorker called it a "breathtaking success."
In 2015, Rachel Cusk adapted the ancient Greek play Medea for the stage. Her version was called Medea - Euripides, A New Version. In Cusk's play, Medea does not harm her children.
Cusk's novel Second Place was published in 2021. It was inspired by the memoirs of Mabel Dodge Luhan. This book continued Cusk's experimental writing style. Critics noted that Cusk kept pushing the boundaries of what a novel can be. Second Place was nominated for the Booker Prize in 2021. It also won the 2022 Prix Femina étranger for its French translation.
Personal Life
Rachel Cusk was married to photographer Adrian Clarke. They have two daughters together. They separated in 2011. This experience became an important topic in some of Cusk's books.
She is now married to Siemon Scamell-Katz. In 2021, they moved to Paris. This move was partly because they did not agree with the United Kingdom leaving the European Union.
Awards and Honors
Rachel Cusk has won many awards for her writing:
- 1993 Whitbread First Novel Award – Saving Agnes
- 1997 Somerset Maugham Award – The Country Life
- 2003 Whitbread Novel Award (shortlist) – The Lucky Ones
- 2005 Man Booker Prize (longlist) – In the Fold
- 2007 Orange Prize for Fiction (shortlist) – Arlington Park
- 2012 Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature (FRSL)
- 2014 Goldmiths Prize (shortlist)
- 2015 Folio Prize (shortlist)
- 2015 Bailey's Prize (shortlist)
- 2015 Scotiabank Giller Prize (shortlist)
- 2015 Governor General's Literary Award for Fiction (shortlist)
- 2016 Goldsmiths Prize (shortlist)
- 2017 Scotiabank Giller Prize (shortlist)
- 2018 Goldsmiths Prize (shortlist)
- 2021 Booker Prize (longlist) – Second Place
- 2021 Governor General's Award for English-language fiction (shortlist) – Second Place
- 2022 Prix Femina étranger – Second Place
- 2024 Premio Malaparte
See also
In Spanish: Rachel Cusk para niños
