Penelope Fitzgerald was a highly influential literary fiction author, who surprisingly did not publish her first novel until she was nearly sixty. Fitzgerald was born on December 17, 1916, and her writing career only took off later in her life, but she quickly made up for lost time. She was an English novelist, poet, essayist, and biographer, who gained significant recognition in the literary world. In 2008, The Times included her in a list of "The 50 greatest British writers since 1945," highlighting her impact on English literature.
Fitzgerald was educated at Wycombe Abbey and Somerville College, Oxford university, where she graduated with a congratulatory First in 1938. Her lineage was also notable, as she was the granddaughter of Edward Lee Hicks, an American Bishop in the Episcopal Church. Fitzgerald's writing career was prolific, and she authored nine novels, one of which, Offshore, won the prestigious Booker Prize. Three other novels, The Bookshop, The Beginning of Spring, and The Gate of Angels, also made the Booker Prize shortlist.
In 2012, The Observer named her final novel, The Blue Flower, as one of "the ten best historical novels," further cementing her status as a formidable writer in the genre. Fitzgerald's writing was highly regarded for its depth, intelligence, and wit, and she remains a respected figure in English literature. Her work continues to be celebrated and studied, and her contributions to literary fiction have left an indelible mark on the genre.