Allison Pearson
Encyclopedia
Allison Pearson is a Welsh
author and newspaper columnist. Her novel I Don't Know How She Does It, published in 2002, has sold four million copies and has been made into a movie of the same name
starring Sarah Jessica Parker
. I Think I Love You, her second novel, was published in 2010.
, Wales, Pearson moved to Burry Port
, Carmarthenshire
. She attended Market Harborough Upper School (now Robert Smyth School
), then Lincoln Christ's Hospital School
, both comprehensive schools. She studied English at Clare College, Cambridge
, then taught at an inner London school. She also sold advertising.
at The Mail, Pearson was a columnist with London's Evening Standard
and The Daily Telegraph
. She began her career with The Independent
where she was a sub-editor, before moving to The Independent on Sunday in 1992. There she was assistant to Blake Morrison
before becoming a TV critic, winning the award for Critic of the Year at the British Press Awards
in 1993.
's J'Accuse; BBC Radio 4
's The Copysnatchers and appeared as a regular panellist on The Late Review (the predecessor of Newsnight Review).
" examination of the pressures of modern motherhood. The book was a bestseller in the UK and the US, selling four million copies, and is being made into a film. She has since written I Think I Love You (2010), a novel about a teenager's passion for David Cassidy in the 1970s, and the man who is responsible for writing the so-called replies from David Cassidy to the teenage fans, two characters who later meet up again 20 years after experiencing marriage, divorce, and kids. The latter book has received good reviews for its warmth and sincerity.
, the Duchess of York, by suggesting her daughter Princess Beatrice
was overweight. There appeared to be public support for the princess, with some commenting on Ms Pearson's own apparent lack of anatomical perfection. The Duchess called Pearson for a meeting with herself and her daughter, but Pearson ignored them. On the TV programme This Morning the Duchess attacked the absent columnist.
Pearson was sued by Miramax for non-delivery of a second novel, I Think I Love You, for which she received a US$700,000 advance in 2003. Delivery was due in 2005. In her column of 17 February 2010, she claims to have finished the novel though does not comment on whether legal proceedings for non-delivery have been dropped. The novel I Think I Love You has since been published.
. She now lives with Anthony Lane
, film critic for The New Yorker
. They have a son, Thomas (born August 1999), and a daughter, Eveline (born January 1996). They have lived in Cambridge since 2003. Pearson ended her column for the Daily Mail
in April 2010, amid reports that she is to join The Daily Telegraph
, with a column on her experiences of depression. Pearson is set to reprise her role as a columnist with The Daily Telegraph from September 2010.
Welsh people
The Welsh people are an ethnic group and nation associated with Wales and the Welsh language.John Davies argues that the origin of the "Welsh nation" can be traced to the late 4th and early 5th centuries, following the Roman departure from Britain, although Brythonic Celtic languages seem to have...
author and newspaper columnist. Her novel I Don't Know How She Does It, published in 2002, has sold four million copies and has been made into a movie of the same name
I Don't Know How She Does It
I Don't Know How She Does It is a 2011 American comedy film based on Allison Pearson's novel of the same name. The film stars Sarah Jessica Parker, Pierce Brosnan, and Greg Kinnear about Kate Reddy, a financial executive and the breadwinner of her family....
starring Sarah Jessica Parker
Sarah Jessica Parker
Sarah Jessica Parker is an American film, television, and theater actress and producer.She is best known for her leading role as Carrie Bradshaw on the HBO television series Sex and the City , for which she won four Golden Globe Awards, three Screen Actors Guild Awards, and two Emmy Awards...
. I Think I Love You, her second novel, was published in 2010.
Early life
Born in CarmarthenCarmarthen
Carmarthen is a community in, and the county town of, Carmarthenshire, Wales. It is sited on the River Towy north of its mouth at Carmarthen Bay. In 2001, the population was 14,648....
, Wales, Pearson moved to Burry Port
Burry Port
Burry Port is a small town five miles outside the larger centre of Llanelli in Carmarthenshire, Wales, lying on the Loughor estuary. The town's population is roughly 8,000 although in the 2001 census there were 4209 residents....
, Carmarthenshire
Carmarthenshire
Carmarthenshire is a unitary authority in the south west of Wales and one of thirteen historic counties. It is the 3rd largest in Wales. Its three largest towns are Llanelli, Carmarthen and Ammanford...
. She attended Market Harborough Upper School (now Robert Smyth School
Robert Smyth School
The Robert Smyth School is a school in Market Harborough, Leicestershire, England for 14-19 year olds. It is situated in the north of the town, on Burnmill Road, close to St Luke's .-History:...
), then Lincoln Christ's Hospital School
Lincoln Christ's Hospital School
Lincoln Christ's Hospital School is a state comprehensive school for 11-18 year olds located on Wragby Road in Lincoln, Lincolnshire, England.-Admissions:Its student population is just under 1400, including over 300 in the sixth form...
, both comprehensive schools. She studied English at Clare College, Cambridge
Clare College, Cambridge
Clare College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge in Cambridge, England.The college was founded in 1326, making it the second-oldest surviving college of the University after Peterhouse. Clare is famous for its chapel choir and for its gardens on "the Backs"...
, then taught at an inner London school. She also sold advertising.
Journalism
Prior to taking over from Lynda Lee-PotterLynda Lee-Potter
Lynda Lee-Potter OBE was a columnist for the British newspaper the Daily Mail.-Early years:...
at The Mail, Pearson was a columnist with London's Evening Standard
Evening Standard
The Evening Standard, now styled the London Evening Standard, is a free local daily newspaper, published Monday–Friday in tabloid format in London. It is the dominant regional evening paper for London and the surrounding area, with coverage of national and international news and City of London...
and The Daily Telegraph
The Daily Telegraph
The Daily Telegraph is a daily morning broadsheet newspaper distributed throughout the United Kingdom and internationally. The newspaper was founded by Arthur B...
. She began her career with The Independent
The Independent
The Independent is a British national morning newspaper published in London by Independent Print Limited, owned by Alexander Lebedev since 2010. It is nicknamed the Indy, while the Sunday edition, The Independent on Sunday, is the Sindy. Launched in 1986, it is one of the youngest UK national daily...
where she was a sub-editor, before moving to The Independent on Sunday in 1992. There she was assistant to Blake Morrison
Blake Morrison
Philip Blake Morrison is a British poet and author who has published in a wide range of fiction and non-fiction genres. His greatest success came with the publication of his memoirs And When Did You Last See Your Father? which won the J. R. Ackerley Prize for Autobiography. He has also written a...
before becoming a TV critic, winning the award for Critic of the Year at the British Press Awards
British Press Awards
The British Press Awards is an annual ceremony that celebrates the best of British journalism. Established in the 1970s, honours are voted on by a panel of journalists and newspaper executives...
in 1993.
Broadcasting
Pearson has presented Channel 4Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
's J'Accuse; BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4 is a British domestic radio station, operated and owned by the BBC, that broadcasts a wide variety of spoken-word programmes, including news, drama, comedy, science and history. It replaced the BBC Home Service in 1967. The station controller is currently Gwyneth Williams, and the...
's The Copysnatchers and appeared as a regular panellist on The Late Review (the predecessor of Newsnight Review).
Books
Pearson is the author of a novel, I Don't Know How She Does It (2002), a "chick litChick lit
Chick lit is genre fiction which addresses issues of modern womanhood, often humorously and lightheartedly. The genre sold well during the 1990s and 2000s, with chick lit titles topping bestseller lists and the creation of imprints devoted entirely to chick lit...
" examination of the pressures of modern motherhood. The book was a bestseller in the UK and the US, selling four million copies, and is being made into a film. She has since written I Think I Love You (2010), a novel about a teenager's passion for David Cassidy in the 1970s, and the man who is responsible for writing the so-called replies from David Cassidy to the teenage fans, two characters who later meet up again 20 years after experiencing marriage, divorce, and kids. The latter book has received good reviews for its warmth and sincerity.
Controversy
In May 2008, she angered Sarah FergusonSarah, Duchess of York
Sarah, Duchess of York is a British charity patron, spokesperson, writer, film producer, television personality and former member of the British Royal Family. She is the former wife of Prince Andrew, Duke of York, whom she married from 1986 to 1996...
, the Duchess of York, by suggesting her daughter Princess Beatrice
Princess Beatrice of York
Princess Beatrice of York is the elder daughter of Prince Andrew, Duke of York, and Sarah, Duchess of York...
was overweight. There appeared to be public support for the princess, with some commenting on Ms Pearson's own apparent lack of anatomical perfection. The Duchess called Pearson for a meeting with herself and her daughter, but Pearson ignored them. On the TV programme This Morning the Duchess attacked the absent columnist.
Pearson was sued by Miramax for non-delivery of a second novel, I Think I Love You, for which she received a US$700,000 advance in 2003. Delivery was due in 2005. In her column of 17 February 2010, she claims to have finished the novel though does not comment on whether legal proceedings for non-delivery have been dropped. The novel I Think I Love You has since been published.
Personal
Pearson was married to fellow journalist Simon Pearson, whom she married in May 1988 in LincolnLincoln, Lincolnshire
Lincoln is a cathedral city and county town of Lincolnshire, England.The non-metropolitan district of Lincoln has a population of 85,595; the 2001 census gave the entire area of Lincoln a population of 120,779....
. She now lives with Anthony Lane
Anthony Lane
Anthony Lane is a film critic for The New Yorker magazine.-Personal life:Lane lives in Cambridge with Allison Pearson, a British writer and former Daily Mail columnist...
, film critic for The New Yorker
The New Yorker
The New Yorker is an American magazine of reportage, commentary, criticism, essays, fiction, satire, cartoons and poetry published by Condé Nast...
. They have a son, Thomas (born August 1999), and a daughter, Eveline (born January 1996). They have lived in Cambridge since 2003. Pearson ended her column for the Daily Mail
Daily Mail
The Daily Mail is a British daily middle-market tabloid newspaper owned by the Daily Mail and General Trust. First published in 1896 by Lord Northcliffe, it is the United Kingdom's second biggest-selling daily newspaper after The Sun. Its sister paper The Mail on Sunday was launched in 1982...
in April 2010, amid reports that she is to join The Daily Telegraph
The Daily Telegraph
The Daily Telegraph is a daily morning broadsheet newspaper distributed throughout the United Kingdom and internationally. The newspaper was founded by Arthur B...
, with a column on her experiences of depression. Pearson is set to reprise her role as a columnist with The Daily Telegraph from September 2010.