Women and fiction have had a long term relationship. And by stating that, I don’t intend to mine the rich seam of humour here. Nevertheless it holds true for a fact that women simply stand out when it comes to writing fiction. I’m sure I’m not the only one who agrees with this. History has given us many examples to prove this point. And I’m just restating this fact here by citing some of the best women writers who made their mark.
a. Jane Austen: The first in the category is the one and only, Jane Austen. Her works have earned her worldwide recognition as one of the most popularly read authors in English literature. No wonder, even today her novel, Pride and Prejudice is like a Bible for so many adolescent girls.
b. J.K. Rowling: Now who doesn’t know J.K. Rowling! If you’re clueless, then all that you need to recall is ‘Harry Potter fantasy series’! It is Rowling’s best work that sold more than 400 million copies and turned out to be the best-selling book series in the history.
c. Jhumpa Lahiri: Pulitzer Price winner for fiction, Jhumpa Lahiri is an Indian American author. Lahiri’s fiction is autobiographical and frequently draws upon her own experiences as well as those of her parents, friends and others in Bengali communities with which she is familiar. Her writing is basically characterised by her ‘plain’ language that connects to every reader.
d. Danielle Steel: Currently the bestselling author alive, Danielle Steel is the fourth bestselling author of all the times. Most of her novels have been translated into 28 languages. Not just that, 22 novels have been adapted for television, from which two have also received Golden Globe nominations. Quite a novelist, isn’t she?
e. Arundhati Roy: Last but not the least, here’s Arundhati Roy. She is an Indian author who is best known for ‘The God of Small Things’, which also won Man Booker Prize for Fiction in 1998. The publication of the same catapulted Roy to instant international fame. The book was listed in the New York Times ‘Notable Books of the Year’ for 1997.
These and many other women have made an exceptional mark in the writing world. Courtesy their highly imaginative mind, they have proved themselves as the pioneers in this field. What do you think?
