Helen DeWitt
Encyclopedia
Helen DeWitt is a novelist.
DeWitt grew up primarily in South America
(Mexico, Brazil, Colombia and Ecuador), as her parents worked in the United States
diplomatic service. After a year at Northfield Mount Hermon
School and two short periods at Smith College
, DeWitt studied classics
at the University of Oxford
, first at Lady Margaret Hall, and then at Brasenose College for her D.Phil.
DeWitt is best known for her acclaimed debut novel
, The Last Samurai
. She held a variety of jobs while struggling to finish a book, including a dictionary
text tagger, a copytaker, and Dunkin' Donuts
employee, she also worked in a laundry service. During this time she reportedly attempted to finish many novels, before finally completing The Last Samurai, her 50th manuscript, in 1998.
In 2004, DeWitt went missing from her home in Staten Island
. She was found unharmed a few days later at Niagara Falls
.
In 2005 she collaborated with Ingrid Kerma
, the London
-based painter, writing “limit5” for the exhibition “Blushing Brides”.
DeWitt lives in Berlin
where she has recently finished a second novel, Your Name Here, in collaboration with the Australian journalist Ilya Gridneff. DeWitt had met Gridneff in an East London pub shortly before her departure for New York
; impressed by the linguistic virtuosity of his e-mails, she suggested a book inspired by Charlie Kaufman
's Adaptation
, or Being John Malkovich
, with Gridneff as Malkovich.
Recently, rights to make a film of The Last Samurai have been optioned by Tom Dey
.
An excerpt of Your Name Here was published in the Winter 2008 issue of n+1 magazine.
DeWitt grew up primarily in South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
(Mexico, Brazil, Colombia and Ecuador), as her parents worked in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
diplomatic service. After a year at Northfield Mount Hermon
Northfield Mount Hermon
Northfield Mount Hermon School, commonly referred to as NMH, is a co-educational independent boarding high school for students in grades 9–12...
School and two short periods at Smith College
Smith College
Smith College is a private, independent women's liberal arts college located in Northampton, Massachusetts. It is the largest member of the Seven Sisters...
, DeWitt studied classics
Classics
Classics is the branch of the Humanities comprising the languages, literature, philosophy, history, art, archaeology and other culture of the ancient Mediterranean world ; especially Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome during Classical Antiquity Classics (sometimes encompassing Classical Studies or...
at the University of Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
, first at Lady Margaret Hall, and then at Brasenose College for her D.Phil.
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
DeWitt is best known for her acclaimed debut novel
Debut novel
A debut novel is the first novel an author publishes. Debut novels are the author's first opportunity to make an impact on the publishing industry, and thus the success or failure of a debut novel can affect the ability of the author to publish in the future...
, The Last Samurai
The Last Samurai (novel)
The Last Samurai was the first novel by American writer Helen DeWitt.-Plot introduction:The Last Samurai is about the relationship between a young boy, Ludo, and his mother, Sibylla...
. She held a variety of jobs while struggling to finish a book, including a dictionary
Dictionary
A dictionary is a collection of words in one or more specific languages, often listed alphabetically, with usage information, definitions, etymologies, phonetics, pronunciations, and other information; or a book of words in one language with their equivalents in another, also known as a lexicon...
text tagger, a copytaker, and Dunkin' Donuts
Dunkin' Donuts
Dunkin' Donuts is an international doughnut and coffee retailer founded in 1950 by William Rosenberg in Quincy, Massachusetts; it is now headquartered in Canton...
employee, she also worked in a laundry service. During this time she reportedly attempted to finish many novels, before finally completing The Last Samurai, her 50th manuscript, in 1998.
In 2004, DeWitt went missing from her home in Staten Island
Staten Island
Staten Island is a borough of New York City, New York, United States, located in the southwest part of the city. Staten Island is separated from New Jersey by the Arthur Kill and the Kill Van Kull, and from the rest of New York by New York Bay...
. She was found unharmed a few days later at Niagara Falls
Niagara Falls
The Niagara Falls, located on the Niagara River draining Lake Erie into Lake Ontario, is the collective name for the Horseshoe Falls and the adjacent American Falls along with the comparatively small Bridal Veil Falls, which combined form the highest flow rate of any waterfalls in the world and has...
.
In 2005 she collaborated with Ingrid Kerma
Ingrid Kerma
Ingrid Kerma is a European-based artist.She was born near Berlin in 1942 and went on to study at Reading University and Goldsmiths, University of London. She divides her time between London and Berlin. She has exhibited her work throughout Europe, as well as in Los Angeles and Toronto...
, the London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
-based painter, writing “limit5” for the exhibition “Blushing Brides”.
DeWitt lives in Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
where she has recently finished a second novel, Your Name Here, in collaboration with the Australian journalist Ilya Gridneff. DeWitt had met Gridneff in an East London pub shortly before her departure for New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
; impressed by the linguistic virtuosity of his e-mails, she suggested a book inspired by Charlie Kaufman
Charlie Kaufman
Charles Stuart "Charlie" Kaufman is an American screenwriter, producer, and director. His film work includes Being John Malkovich, Human Nature, Adaptation, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and Synecdoche, New York...
's Adaptation
Adaptation
An adaptation in biology is a trait with a current functional role in the life history of an organism that is maintained and evolved by means of natural selection. An adaptation refers to both the current state of being adapted and to the dynamic evolutionary process that leads to the adaptation....
, or Being John Malkovich
Being John Malkovich
Being John Malkovich is a 1999 American black comedy-fantasy film written by Charlie Kaufman and directed by Spike Jonze. It stars John Cusack, Cameron Diaz, Catherine Keener, and John Malkovich, who plays a fictional version of himself...
, with Gridneff as Malkovich.
Recently, rights to make a film of The Last Samurai have been optioned by Tom Dey
Tom Dey
Thomas Ridgeway "Tom" Dey is an American film director. His credits include Shanghai Noon, Showtime, Failure to Launch and Marmaduke....
.
An excerpt of Your Name Here was published in the Winter 2008 issue of n+1 magazine.
Novels
- The Last SamuraiThe Last Samurai (novel)The Last Samurai was the first novel by American writer Helen DeWitt.-Plot introduction:The Last Samurai is about the relationship between a young boy, Ludo, and his mother, Sibylla...
(2000) - Your Name Here (2007)
- Lightning Rods (2011)