Antonia Fraser

Date of Birth: August 27, 1932

Zodiac Sign: Virgo

Biography

Antonia Fraser, born Lady Antonia Margaret Caroline Pakenham, is a British author renowned for her historical biographies, detective fiction, and novels. She was born into an aristocratic family, the eldest of eight children of Frank Pakenham, 7th Earl of Longford, and Elizabeth Harman. Her upbringing was steeped in a rich intellectual and cultural environment, which fostered her early interest in history and literature. Fraser’s literary career began with the publication of her first book, “Mary Queen of Scots,” in 1969, which was critically acclaimed and established her reputation as a meticulous and engaging historian. She has since published numerous biographies, including “Cromwell: Our Chief of Men,” “King Charles II,” and “Marie Antoinette: The Journey,” which was adapted into a film directed by Sofia Coppola. In addition to her historical works, Fraser is also known for her Jemima Shore detective series. Her writing has garnered numerous awards, including the Wolfson History Prize and the James Tait Black Memorial Prize. Fraser was married to Sir Hugh Fraser, a Conservative MP, until his death in 1984. She later married renowned playwright Harold Pinter in 1980, with whom she remained until his death in 2008. Fraser continues to write and contribute to the literary world, making her one of the most respected and beloved figures in contemporary British literature.

5 Interesting Facts about Antonia Fraser

1. Antonia Fraser’s biography “Marie Antoinette: The Journey” was adapted into a film by Sofia Coppola in 2006, starring Kirsten Dunst.

2. She was awarded the CBE (Commander of the Order of the British Empire) in 2011 for her services to literature.

3. Fraser’s father, Frank Pakenham, was a prominent Labour politician and social reformer.

4. Her mother, Elizabeth Harman, was a renowned children’s writer and feminist.

5. Antonia Fraser has been a prominent member of the London Library, one of the world’s largest independent lending libraries.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Antonia Fraser

1. “History is not a burden on the memory but an illumination of the soul.”

2. “The pen is mightier than the sword, but the tongue is mightier than them both put together.”

3. “A biography is interesting in so far as it relates to the public, to the age we live in.”

4. “The historian’s job is to find out what happened in the past and to present it as it was.”

5. “I think there is a great deal of the child in all of us.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

The highest net worth achieved by Antonia Fraser is estimated to be around $20 million.

Children

Antonia Fraser has six children from her first marriage to Sir Hugh Fraser. Their names are Rebecca, Flora, Alexander, Orlando, Natasha, and Benjamin Fraser.