Sarah Waters facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sarah Waters
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Waters at a book signing in 2006
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| Born | 21 July 1966 Neyland, Pembrokeshire, Wales |
| Occupation | Novelist |
| Alma mater | University of Kent Lancaster University Queen Mary University of London |
| Period | 1998–present |
| Genre | Historical fiction |
| Partner | Lucy Vaughan (2002–present) |
Sarah Ann Waters (born on July 21, 1966) is a famous Welsh novelist. She is well-known for her books set in Victorian times. Her stories often feature strong female characters. Some of her most popular books include Tipping the Velvet and Fingersmith.
Contents
Life and Education: A Writer's Journey
Growing Up: Early Life and Interests
Sarah Waters was born in Neyland, Pembrokeshire, Wales, in 1966. When she was eight, her family moved to Middlesbrough, England. She grew up with her father, Ron, her mother, Mary, and an older sister. Her father was an engineer and her mother was a housewife.
Sarah describes her childhood as "very safe and nurturing." Her father was very creative and encouraged her to build and invent things. She remembers making things from plasticine or papier-mâché. She also enjoyed writing poems and stories. Even though she loved writing, she didn't plan to become a novelist right away.
She once thought about becoming an archaeologist, like many kids. She also knew she wanted to go to university. Learning was something she really enjoyed.
Learning and Studying: Sarah's Education
After attending Milford Haven Grammar School, Sarah went to university. She studied English literature. She earned degrees from the University of Kent, Lancaster University, and Queen Mary, University of London.
Her PhD paper was about historical fiction. This research gave her ideas for her future books. While researching, she found the title for her first book, Tipping the Velvet. She was also inspired by classic Victorian writers like Charles Dickens and Wilkie Collins.
Career: Writing Amazing Stories
Before becoming a novelist, Sarah Waters worked in academics. She earned her doctorate and taught at universities. She started writing her first novel right after finishing her PhD paper. She enjoys the research that goes into her books.
Sarah's books are known for their historical settings and interesting characters. She focuses on telling unique stories from the past.
Tipping the Velvet: Her First Book (1998)
Her first novel, Tipping the Velvet, came out in 1998. It is set in the Victorian era and tells an adventurous story. It took her about 18 months to write this book. Sarah describes it as a "very upbeat" and fun story.
The book won an award called the Betty Trask Award in 1999. It was also considered for other prizes. In 2002, the book was made into a three-part TV show for BBC Two. It has been translated into many different languages around the world.
Affinity: A Victorian Mystery (1999)
Sarah's second book, Affinity, was published in 1999. This novel is also set in the Victorian era. It explores the world of Spiritualism, which was popular back then.
While finishing her first book, Sarah was also researching spiritualism. She combined her interests in spiritualism, prisons, and Victorian times in Affinity. The story is about a woman from a wealthy family and a spiritualist who is in prison. This book is a bit more serious than her first one.
Affinity won the Stonewall Book Award and the Somerset Maugham Award. It was also made into a film in 2008.
Fingersmith: A Twisty Tale (2002)
Fingersmith was published in 2002. This book was nominated for the Booker Prize and the Orange Prize.
In 2005, Fingersmith was turned into a TV series for BBC One. Sarah Waters liked the TV show, saying it was "very faithful to the book." Later, in 2016, a South Korean director made the book into a film called The Handmaiden. This movie changed the setting to Korea in the 1930s.
The famous singer and artist David Bowie even named Fingersmith as one of his "top 100 books."
The Night Watch: Stories from the 1940s (2006)
The Night Watch took Sarah four years to write. This book is different from her first three because it is set in the 1940s. It tells the stories of a man and three women living in London during that time.
Sarah said that figuring out this book was like a "wrestling match." She had to try out many different scenes and chapters. The novel is about disappointment, loss, and betrayal, but also about real connections between people.
The Night Watch was also adapted for television by BBC2 in 2011.
The Little Stranger: A Ghost Story (2009)
The Little Stranger is also set in the 1940s. This book is different from Sarah's other novels. It started as a story about changes in Britain after the war. But it turned into a ghost story. It focuses on a family who owns a large old house they can no longer afford.
The Paying Guests: Life in the 1920s (2014)
This novel is set in the 1920s, after World War I. Many families were struggling financially. The story follows Frances Wray and her mother, who have to take in renters to make ends meet. The book explores the relationship between Frances and one of the renters, Lilian Barber. A murder investigation also becomes a big part of the story. Critics praised the book for its exciting plot and writing.
Awards and Recognition
Sarah Waters has received many awards for her writing. In 2003, she was named one of Granta magazine's "Best of Young British Writers." She also won the South Bank Award for Literature and was named Author of the Year at the British Book Awards.
She won "Writer of the Year" at the Stonewall Awards in both 2006 and 2009. In 2009, she became a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature. She also has an honorary degree from Lancaster University.
In 2019, she was given the Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) honor for her contributions to literature. Each of her novels has also won special awards.
Awards for Tipping the Velvet
- Betty Trask Award, 1999
- Library Journal's Best Book of the Year, 1999
- New York Times Notable Book of the Year, 1999
Awards for Affinity
- Stonewall Book Award, 2001
- Somerset Maugham Award, 2000
Awards for Fingersmith
- Crime Writers' Association Ellis Peters Historical Dagger, 2002
- British Book Awards Author of the Year, 2003
Awards for The Night Watch
- Lambda Literary Award, 2007
Awards for The Paying Guests
- Baileys Women's Prize for Fiction (shortlist) 2015
Books Made into Shows and Movies
Many of Sarah Waters's books have been adapted for television, stage, and film.
Television Shows
- Tipping the Velvet (2002), BBC Two
- Fingersmith (2005), BBC One
- Affinity (2008), ITV1
- The Night Watch (2011), BBC Two
Stage Plays
- Tipping the Velvet (2015)
- The Night Watch (2019)
Movies
- The Handmaiden (2016)
- The Little Stranger (2018)
See also
In Spanish: Sarah Waters para niños
