- Born
- Died
- Birth nameRuth Barbara Grasemann
- Ruth Rendell was born on February 17, 1930 in South Woodford, Essex, England, UK. She was a writer, known for Live Flesh (1997), La Cérémonie (1995) and Ruth Rendell Mysteries (1987). She was married to Donald John Rendell. She died on May 2, 2015 in London, England, UK.
- SpousesDonald John Rendell(1977 - March 21, 1999) (his death)Donald John Rendell(1950 - 1975) (divorced, 1 child)
- She began her writing career as a reporter for an Essex newspaper. She was forced to resign after filing a story about a local sports club dinner that she hadn't attended. Her report failed to mention that the after-dinner speaker had died half-way through the speech.
- She was awarded the CBE (Commander of the Order of the British Empire) in 1996 and awarded life peerage as Baroness in 1997 for her services to literature.
- The Rendells divorced in 1975 but remarried two years later and remained together until Don's death in 1999.
- She wrote more than 60 crime novels in a career spanning 50 years. Her best-known character is Inspector Wexford.
- Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature.
- [on reading] Some say life is the thing. I prefer reading.
- I think if you're a woman you are naturally a feminist. Unless you're hiding something.
- [on being a Booker Prize judge in 1995] I used to lie and say I read every word of every book. The truth is that I did my best, but I am a judicious skipper.
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