Carol Shields

Carol Shields, CC , OM , D.Litt. , LL.D , FRSC (June 2, 1935–July 16, 2003) was an American-born Canadian author.

Related Topics:
CC - OM - D.Litt. - LL.D - FRSC - June 2 - 1935 - July 16 - 2003 - American - Canadian - Author

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Born Carol Ann Warner in Oak Park, Illinois, she studied at Hanover College, the University of Exeter in England, and the University of Ottawa, where she received an M.A.

Related Topics:
Oak Park - Illinois - Hanover College - University of Exeter - England - University of Ottawa

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In 1956 while on a college exchange visit to Britain she met a Canadian engineering student, Donald Hugh Shields, in Scotland. The couple married in 1957 and moved to Canada, where they had five children and Carol became a Canadian citizen. Donald, who became a professor of civil engineering, is reported to have said of their meeting and their long and happy marriage, "In engineering, once you've found a woman, that's it. The job's over".

Related Topics:
1956 - Scotland - 1957 - Civil engineering

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In 1973 Shields became editorial assistant for the journal Canadian Slavonic Papers. In 1977, she became a professor at the University of Ottawa, where she stayed for a year. After that, she taught in the University of British Columbia and traveled around the country. In 1980 she settled in Winnipeg, Manitoba. There, she became professor of English at the University of Manitoba. In 1996 she became chancellor of the University of Winnipeg. In 2000 Shields and her husband moved to Victoria, British Columbia, where she died of cancer at age 68.

Related Topics:
1973 - 1977 - University of Ottawa - University of British Columbia - 1980 - Winnipeg - Manitoba - English - University of Manitoba - 1996 - University of Winnipeg - 2000 - Victoria - British Columbia - Cancer

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Shields is the author of several novels and short-story collections, including The Orange Fish, Swann (published in the United Kingdom as Mary Swann), Various Miracles, Happenstance, and The Republic of Love. Her books have won a Canada Council Major Award, two National Magazine Awards, the 1990 Marian Engel Award, the Canadian Author's Award, and a CBC short story award. She was appointed as an officer of the Order of Canada in 1998 and was elevated to companion of the Order in 2002. Shields was also a fellow of the Royal Society of Canada and a member of the Order of Manitoba.

Related Topics:
United Kingdom - 1990 - Marian Engel Award - Canadian Author's Award - CBC - Order of Canada - 1998 - 2002 - Royal Society of Canada - Order of Manitoba

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The Stone Diaries won the 1995 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction and the 1993 Governor General's Award, the only book ever to win both awards. It was nominated for the National Book Critics Circle Award and the 1993 Booker Prize, and was also named one of the best books of the year by Publishers Weekly and a "Notable Book" by The New York Times Book Review. She won the 1998 Orange Prize for Fiction for the novel Larry's Party.

Related Topics:
The Stone Diaries - 1995 - Pulitzer Prize for Fiction - 1993 Governor General's Award - National Book Critics Circle Award - 1993 - Booker Prize - Publishers Weekly - The New York Times - 1998 - Orange Prize for Fiction

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Her last novel, Unless, was nominated for the 2002 Giller Prize, the Governor General's Award, the Booker Prize and the 2003 Orange Prize for Fiction. She also wrote a biography of Jane Austen.

Related Topics:
Giller Prize - 2003 - Jane Austen

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Shields was noted for her gentle, witty yet penetrating insights into human nature. Her most famous works examined the lives of regular people, depicting a profound and universal humanity in even the most ordinary moments of her characters' lives.

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