Janet Frame

Date of Birth: August 28, 1924

Zodiac Sign: Virgo

Date of Death: January 29, 2004

Biography

Janet Frame, born Nene Janet Paterson Clutha, was a distinguished New Zealand author renowned for her autobiographical novels and short stories. Born in Dunedin, New Zealand, Frame’s early life was marked by personal and familial struggles, including the mental illnesses of several of her siblings and her own misdiagnosed mental health issues. Her literary career began in earnest after her release from psychiatric hospitals, where she had spent several years and narrowly avoided a lobotomy due to the timely success of her first published book of short stories. Frame’s work is celebrated for its lyrical prose, deep psychological insight, and the exploration of themes such as identity, mental illness, and the human condition. Her notable works include “Owls Do Cry,” “Faces in the Water,” and her three-volume autobiography, which was later adapted into the acclaimed film “An Angel at My Table” by director Jane Campion. Frame received numerous awards throughout her career, including the Commonwealth Writers’ Prize and the New Zealand Prime Minister’s Award for Literary Achievement. Despite her international recognition, Frame remained a private person, often shunning the public spotlight.

5 Interesting Facts about Janet Frame

1. Janet Frame spent nearly eight years in psychiatric hospitals and narrowly escaped a lobotomy due to the publication of her first book, “The Lagoon and Other Stories.”

2. Her autobiography was adapted into the film “An Angel at My Table,” directed by Jane Campion, which received critical acclaim.

3. Frame was awarded the New Zealand Order of Merit in 1990 for her contributions to literature.

4. She wrote 12 novels, 4 short story collections, a book of poetry, and a children’s book.

5. Frame’s writing often tackled themes of mental illness, identity, and the complexities of the human psyche.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Janet Frame

1. “For your own good is a persuasive argument that will eventually make a man agree to his own destruction.”

2. “Electricity, the peril the wind sings to in the wires on a gray day.”

3. “It is my experience that most people’s actions are driven by a sense of what is right, or what they can justify.”

4. “Writing a novel is like making love, but it’s also like having a tooth pulled. Pleasure and pain. Sometimes it’s like making love while having a tooth pulled.”

5. “There is no past, present, or future. Using tenses to divide time is like making chalk marks on water.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

Janet Frame’s highest net worth is not well-documented, but her literary estate is considered valuable due to her significant contributions to literature and the adaptation of her works into films and other media.