Ruth Rendell facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
The Baroness Rendell of Babergh
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Ruth Rendell in 1985
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| Born | Ruth Barbara Grasemann 17 February 1930 South Woodford, Essex, England |
| Died | 2 May 2015 (aged 85) London, England |
| Pen name | Barbara Vine |
| Occupation | Novelist |
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Ruth Barbara Rendell, also known as Baroness Rendell of Babergh, (born 17 February 1930 – died 2 May 2015) was a famous English writer. She was well-known for her thrilling stories and psychological murder mysteries.
Rendell is most famous for creating the character Chief Inspector Wexford. She also wrote many other crime novels. These books often looked into the minds of criminals and their victims. She wrote a third series of books under the pen name Barbara Vine.
Contents
Ruth Rendell's Life Story
Ruth Barbara Grasemann was born in 1930 in South Woodford, England. Her parents were both teachers. Her mother, Ebba Kruse, was from Sweden and Denmark. Her father, Arthur Grasemann, was English. Because of her mother's background, Ruth learned Swedish and Danish. She went to high school in Loughton, Essex.
After school, she worked as a writer for a local newspaper, the Chigwell Times. She had to leave this job after she wrote a story about an event she didn't go to. She also missed reporting that a speaker had died during a speech!
Ruth met her husband, Don Rendell, while working as a writer. They got married when she was 20. In 1953, they had a son named Simon. Simon now works in the U.S. state of Colorado. Ruth and Don divorced in 1975 but remarried two years later. Don Rendell passed away in 1999.
Ruth Rendell lived in Suffolk for many years. She used places in Suffolk as settings for her novels. She was given a special honor, becoming a life peer in 1997. This meant she became Baroness Rendell of Babergh. She also sat in the House of Lords, which is part of the UK Parliament.
In 2014, Ruth Rendell was one of 200 public figures who signed a letter. The letter hoped that Scotland would stay part of the United Kingdom.
Ruth Rendell was a vegetarian. She also described herself as "slightly agoraphobic". This means she sometimes felt anxious in open or crowded places.
Awards and Recognitions
Baroness Rendell received many awards for her writing. These include the Silver, Gold, and Cartier Diamond Daggers from the Crime Writers' Association. She also won three Edgars from the Mystery Writers of America.
Many of her books were made into films or TV shows. She also supported a charity called Kids for Kids. This charity helps children in rural areas of Darfur. There is a special blue plaque on one of her former homes in Loughton. This plaque honors her and was put up by her son Simon. Four of her novels are on a list of the best crime fiction novels ever written.
Ruth Rendell's Passing
Ruth Rendell had a stroke on 7 January 2015. She passed away on 2 May 2015.
Her Lasting Impact
The Ruth Rendell award was created in 2016 by the National Literacy Trust. This award celebrates authors who inspire children and help them improve their reading and writing skills.
Developing Thriller Stories
Ruth Rendell wrote two books that were not published before her first book, From Doon with Death, came out in 1964. This book was the first to feature her famous character, Chief Inspector Reginald Wexford. Rendell said that Wexford's character was based on herself.
Her book The Monster in the Box (2009) was thought to be Wexford's last case. However, it was only his last case as a working policeman. In later books, The Vault and No Man's Nightingale, he was retired. But he still helped with police investigations as a "consultant."
Ruth Rendell also wrote psychological crime novels. These books explored themes like strong romantic feelings and misunderstandings. They also looked at how chance and unexpected events can change lives. Some of these books include A Judgement in Stone, Live Flesh, and The Girl Next Door. For her last novel, The Girl Next Door, she wrote about the Loughton of her childhood.
In 1986, Rendell started a third type of writing. She published A Dark-Adapted Eye under the pen name Barbara Vine. This name came from her middle name and her great-grandmother's maiden name. Books like King Solomon's Carpet and A Fatal Inversion explored similar themes. They focused on human misunderstandings and the unexpected results of family secrets. Rendell was known for her clear writing and deep understanding of the human mind. She also brought attention to social issues like domestic violence in her work.
Books Made into Films and TV Shows
The Inspector Wexford series was very popular on TV. It was called The Ruth Rendell Mysteries. George Baker played Inspector Wexford. There were 48 episodes from 1987 to 2000. Ruth Rendell really liked Baker's acting.
Many of her other books were also made into films and TV shows. For example, A Judgement in Stone was made into a French film called La Cérémonie in 1995. Rendell said this was one of the few film versions she was happy with. Another film, Live Flesh, was made from her book in 1997 by Pedro Almodóvar.
Other adaptations include Diary of the Dead (1976) and The Tree of Hands. François Ozon's 2015 film The New Girlfriend was based on one of Rendell's short stories. Two episodes of the TV show Tales of the Unexpected were also based on her short stories.
Awards and Honors List
- 1975 – Mystery Writers of America Best Short Story Edgar: The Fallen Curtain
- 1987 – Mystery Writers of America Edgar Award: A Dark-Adapted Eye
- 1987 – Gold Dagger for Fiction: A Fatal Inversion
- 1988 – Angel Award for Fiction: The House of Stairs
- 1990 – Sunday Times Award for Literary Excellence
- 1991 – Gold Dagger for Fiction: King Solomon's Carpet
- 1991 – Cartier Diamond Dagger for a Lifetime's Achievement in the Field
- 1996 – Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE)
- 1997 - Life Peer as Baroness Rendell of Babergh
- 2004 – Mystery Ink Gumshoe Award for Lifetime Achievement
- 2005 – CWA Dagger of Daggers (best crime novel to have won the Gold Dagger award (shortlist)): A Fatal Inversion
- 2007 – Gumshoe Award for Best European Crime Novel (shortlist): The Minotaur
- 2007 – Theakston's Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year Award (longlist): End in Tears
- 2010 – Lost Man Booker Prize (longlist): A Guilty Thing Surprised
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See also
In Spanish: Ruth Rendell para niños
