Literature lover finds acclaim

When it comes to the writings of novelist A.S. Byatt, reading
audiences across the world are captivated by the multi-dimensional
nature of her work. From John Milton to Robert Browning and
everyone in between, including the Italian Dante, Byatt’s
studies as a young woman have led her on a lifelong journey to her
current home under the roof of literary fame, where it seems she
will enjoy a comfortable stay for the rest of her career.

Born in Sheffied, South Yorkshire, England, Byatt, who will
speak at Royce Hall on March 11, has been conducting a love affair
with literature for the majority of her life.

Her first novel, “Shadow of a Sun,” was published in
1964 and gave way to a series of novels and short stories that did
not bring her fame, but slowly built for her a name as an
author.

Widely known for her most popular work “Possession: A
Romance,” which won the Booker Prize and was later made into
a successful movie starring Gwyneth Paltrow, Byatt has since been
illuminated by the literary spotlight, advancing her deep into the
world of renown where celebrity status has continued to make
alterations to the life that she formerly knew.

“Mostly it has made me more private and secretive, and
less spontaneous,” said Byatt in a fax.

“I do feel less real as a person.”

Also the author of such works as “The Biographer’s
Tale,” “The Djinn in the Nightingale’s Eye”
and the recently published “Little Black Book of
Stories,” Byatt’s intense study of the English canon
has had a great influence upon her own work, which echoes some of
those voices of old.

“I liked the 17th century books ““ (John) Donne,
(George) Herbert, (Andrew) Marvell, Milton ““ and their voices
haunt my work,” Byatt said. “I also liked (Alfred Lord)
Tennyson and Browning, who were highly unfashionable. A writer
should read and take in as many different forms of writing as
possible. But I am rather repelled by role models.”

Along with the Booker Prize for “Possession,” Byatt
has also enjoyed the honor of being published in 27 languages. But
her greatest achievement came in 1999, when she was made a dame of
the British Empire, a title that celebrates her contributions to
the world of literature as well as to her country as a whole.

“When I gave up the idea of being an academic, because I
was a writer, I felt that I had chosen one of two paths and the
other was closed,” Byatt said. “(The day I was honored)
I felt I’d managed to live in both of my worlds.”

Yet even renowned authors like Byatt must enjoy a few knocks
from critics, even after achieving success. Indeed, it takes thick
skin to make it in the writing world.

“All writers remember bad reviews and forget good ones,
and I am no exception,” Byatt said. “The answer to this
is not to read them, and I don’t, although I miss some
encouragement this way. I also never show my work to anyone until
it is finished. A writer is his or her own best critic.”

In fact, writers not only have to deal with critics not always
adhering to the idea of staying quiet for lack of anything nice to
say, but they must also manage to appease publishers, who Byatt has
learned often want to alter key sections in a manuscript.

“I get unreasonably angry and fight over every
adjective,” Byatt said. “The American publisher of
“˜Possession’ wanted to delete all the poetry and much
of the Victorian prose and letters. But I was never going to give
in.”

Byatt is currently in the process of working on a new novel
about socialism and fairy tales, as well as a steady stream of
short tales and stories. Part of Byatt’s success is most
certainly due to the fact that she is always prepared to begin
something fresh.

“I don’t reread my work,” Byatt said. “I
think about the next book.”