Jeanette Winterson - Wonderful Woman No. 98

Jeanette Winterson - Born 1959
British Author

As first novels go, Oranges Are Not The Only Fruit by Jeanette Winterson takes some beating. The book is based on Jeanette's own life experiences and won the Whitbread Prize for a First Novel in 1985. It was later adapted into a BAFTA award winning television series by the BBC.

Jeanette was raised by an adoptive family in Lancashire, England, as in Oranges Are Not The Only Fruit, the family had strict religious faith and were often cruel and cold towards her. As a sixteen year old lesbian, Jeanette's adoptive mother had a priest perform an exorcism on Jeanette to release her sexual demons before throwing her out of the family home. She supported herself with part-time jobs through college and through university, reading English at St Catherine's College, Oxford. She was a determined and ambitious young woman, who did not allow her personal situation and finances stand in the way of her goal.

Following Oranges Are Not The Only Fruit, Jeanette has since written a further 20+ published books to date. Her other publications have been rewarded with many literary prizes and have reached the best-sellers lists on several occasions. She has also written for the stage and had other work adapted for screen.

A strong supporter in charity, Jeanette donated all proceeds from her 2009 book, Dog Days to Oxfam.

Jeanette has spoken publicly in support of adoption, drawing on her own experiences and knowledge (even though her experience was not an altogether positive one, she still believes that having a family was important). Last year she appeared in the press discussing the lack of successful adoptions taking place in England - it is reported that in 2011, only 60 took place.

To me, Jeanette is wonderful because of the stories she tells but to have lived through her tormented childhood, to have dragged herself through financial hardship to educate herself and then to go on with a positive direction, help others and tell those stories is more than wonderful.

I always would have been my own woman.
Jeanette Winterson