Carol Shields

Date of Birth: June 2, 1935

Zodiac Sign: Gemini

Date of Death: July 16, 2003

Biography

Carol Shields was an acclaimed American-born Canadian author and novelist, renowned for her insightful explorations of everyday life and the complexities of human relationships. Born on June 2, 1935, in Oak Park, Illinois, Shields moved to Canada in 1957 after marrying Canadian engineer Donald Hugh Shields. She worked as a professor of English at the University of Manitoba and later at the University of Ottawa. Shields published her first novel, “Small Ceremonies,” in 1976, but she gained international recognition with her Pulitzer Prize-winning novel “The Stone Diaries” in 1993. Her literary career spanned over three decades, during which she authored numerous novels, short stories, and plays. Shields passed away on July 16, 2003, in Victoria, British Columbia, leaving behind a legacy of deeply empathetic and richly textured narratives that continue to resonate with readers around the world.

5 Interesting Facts about Carol Shields

1. Carol Shields won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1995 for her novel “The Stone Diaries.”

2. She was made an Officer of the Order of Canada in 1998.

3. Shields wrote her first novel, “Small Ceremonies,” while raising five children.

4. She was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1998, which eventually metastasized.

5. Shields held dual citizenship in the United States and Canada.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Carol Shields

1. “There are chapters in every life which are seldom read and certainly not aloud.”

2. “I have a theory that fiction exists to teach us empathy.”

3. “Survival is a triumph, as long as we can communicate and feel and love.”

4. “Time is for dragonflies and angels. The former live too little and the latter live too long.”

5. “Writing is the act of finding out what you believe while you are writing.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

At the peak of her career, Carol Shields’ net worth was estimated to be around $1 million, primarily derived from her book sales and literary awards.

Children

Carol Shields had five children with her husband Donald Hugh Shields: Anne, Catherine, Meg, Sara, and David. Her daughter Anne Giardini is also a writer and has published several novels.