Significant Dates

1935 born Oak Park, Illinois on June 2nd
sister Barbara and brother Robert (twins) two years older
mother Inez (Sellgren) Warner, father Robert E. Warner
1940 starts school - Nathaniel Hawthorne School, Oak Park, IL
1943 changes to Ralph Waldo Emerson School in Oak Park
1948 enters Oak Park High School
1953 starts university at Hanover College, Hanover, Indiana
1955 United Nations Exchange Student, University of Exeter, Exeter, England
meets Donald Shields at the Covenantors Inn, Aberfoyle, Scotland
1956 returns to Hanover College for final year
student teaching in Kentucky
1957 graduates in English and History from Hanover College
marries Donald Shields, July 20, Oak Park, IL
emigrates to Canada
lives in Vancouver, BC, until November, then moves to Toronto
1958 son John Douglas Shields born April 19 in Toronto
1959 daughter Anne Elizabeth Shields born October 12 in Toronto
1960 attends evening writing class at University of Toronto
sells short story to Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC)
moves to Manchester, England, in the fall
1962 daughter Catherine Mary Shields born February 8 in Manchester
publishes first short story in British magazine, The Story Teller
1963 moves back to Toronto in November
1964 daughter Margaret (Meg) Lorin Shields born April 30 in Toronto
wins CBC Young Writer's Competition for poetry
1967 moves temporarily to Ottawa, ON, in September
1968 daughter Sara Ellysn Shields born January 5 in Ottawa
returns to Toronto in April
moves to Ottawa in October
1969 starts working part-time towards M.A. degree in English at University of Ottawa
1971 becomes a Canadian citizen March 11
1972 first book of poetry, Others, is published by Borealis Press in Canada
1973 Editorial Assistant of The Canadian Slavonic Papers (for two years)
book of poetry, Intersect, is published by Borealis Press in Canada
1975 receives M.A. degree in English from the University of Ottawa
Poet-in-the-Schools, Ontario Arts Council
moves temporarily to France in July
1976 returns to Ottawa in July from France
is hired as teaching assistant in English, University of Ottawa
novel Small Ceremonies is published by McGraw-Hill Ryerson in Canada
wins The Canadian Authors Association Award for Small Ceremonies
1977 teaches Creative Writing, University of Ottawa
novel The Box Garden is published by McGraw-Hill Ryerson in Canada
non-fiction book-length essay Susanna Moodie: Voice and Vision is published by
      Borealis Press in Canada
1978 moves to Vancouver in July
teaches Creative Writing, University of British Columbia
1979 Lecturer and Resource Person, Alberta Culture (for two years)
1980 moves to Winnipeg, MB, in July
lecturer at Winnipeg Education Centre, University of Manitoba
instructor in creative writing, Continuing Education Division, University of Manitoba
novel Happenstance is published by McGraw-Hill Ryerson in Canada
1981 becomes Assistant Professor of English, University of Manitoba
teaches English for Engineers, University of Manitoba as a sessional lecturer
1982 novel A Fairly Conventional Woman is published by Macmillan Canada in Canada
1983 wins CBC Annual Literary Competition for radio play, Women Waiting
starts writing A Celibate Season with Blanche Howard - is accepted for publication by
      Coteau Books in 1990
starts writing short stories which will become the book Various Miracles
1984 first stage play Departures and Arrivals is performed at Black Hole Theatre,
      University of Manitoba
wins second prize, Canadian Broadcasting Corporation Literary Awards: Short fiction,
      for Fitting Behavior
1985 short story Mrs Turner Cutting the Grass wins Canadian National Magazine Award
short story collection Various Miracles is published by Stoddard in Canada
moves to Nantes, France, in July; returns to Winnipeg in December
travels to Albania. Participates in English language courses at the University of Tirana
subject of documentary film
1986 Writer-in-Residence at Queen's University, Kingston, ON
moves to Paris in September
play Anniversary written with Dave Williamson is performed in Toronto
1987 returns to Winnipeg from Paris in June
novel Swann: A Mystery is published in Canada by Stoddard
Short-listed for Governor General of Canada Literary Award: Swann: A Mystery
returns to Albania, records readings to be used in English language courses
1988 Writer-in-Residence, University of Winnipeg
Writer-in-Residence, Douglas College, Vancouver, BC
wins the Arthur Ellis Award for the Best Canadian Mystery of the Year for Swann: A Mystery
1989 Writer-in-Residence, University of Ottawa from September to December
magazine Room of One's Own publishes special issue on Carol Shields
short story collection The Orange Fish is published in Canada by Random House Canada
short story collection Various Miracles is published in the USA by Viking
novel Swann is published by Viking in the USA
stories are published in both Saturday Night and Prairie Fire magazines
teaches writing for two weeks in Fort San, Saskatchewan
1990 awarded Marian Engel Award for body of work
stage play Departures and Arrivals is published by Blizzard Press in Canada
short story collection The Orange Fish is published by Viking in the USA, and chosen
      by Christian Science Monitor as one of two best books of short fiction of 1990
novel Mary Swann is published by Fourth Estate in Britain
play based on A Celibate Season, is adapted by Blanche Howard, performed in North       Vancouver
starts research for the book which will become The Stone Diaries
1991 novel A Celibate Season (co-authored with Blanche Howard) is published in Canada
      by Coteau
1992 novel The Republic of Love is published in Canada by Random House Canada, Viking
      in the USA and Fourth Estate in the UK
book of poetry Coming To Canada is published by Carleton University Press
novel Mary Swann is published in the UK by Harper Collins
awarded second prize, Guardian Newspaper Fiction Prize: Republic of Love
promoted to Associate Professor of English at the University of Manitoba
1993 novel The Stone Diaries is published in Canada by Random House Canada
The Stone Diaries receives Governor General of Canada Literary Award
novels Happenstance and Fairly Conventional Woman are combined into Happenstance,      published by Fourth Estate in the UK
play Thirteen Hands is first staged by Prairie Theatre Exchange in Winnipeg, and is      published in Canada by Blizzard Publishing
moves to Berkley, California in September for sabbatical leave
short-listed for Man Booker Prize: The Stone Diaries
1994 wins the McNally Robinson Award for Manitoba Book of the Year for The Stone Diaries
wins the Canadian Booksellers Association Prize for The Stone Diaries
awarded National Book Critics Circle Award for Fiction for The Stone Diaries
short story collection Various Miracles is published in the United Kingdom by Fourth Estate
novel The Stone Diaries is published by Viking in the USA
The Stone Diaries is listed as a notable book by the New York Times
novel Happenstance (combined version) is published by Viking in the USA
returns to Winnipeg in June after sabbatical leave in California
teaches creative writing in Paris in the Spring
starts research into labyrinths/mazes for book that becomes Larry's Party
1995 receives Pulitzer Prize for Fiction for The Stone Diaries
receives Tradition of Excellence Award in Literature from alma-mater Oak Park and
      River Forest High School for winning the Pulitzer Prize
play Fashion, Power, Guilt, and the Charity of Families (co-authored with daughter      Catherine Shields) is performed at Prairie Theatre Exchange in Winnipeg, and
      published by Blizzard Press in Canada
novel The Box Garden is published by Fourth Estate in the UK
Corresponding Writer for Humber School for Writers (Toronto) from January to July
Resource Author, one-week July short course, Humber School for Writers
Prairie Fire Magazine devotes entire issue to Carol Shields
becomes a full Professor of English at the University of Manitoba
awarded Honourary Doctor of University Degree by University of Ottawa
1996 becomes Chancellor of the University of Winnipeg
awarded Honourary Doctorates from Hanover College (Humane Letters),
      Queen's University (Ontario)(Laws), University of Winnipeg (of Letters), and
      University of British Columbia (Literature)
novel Mary Swann is published by Flamingo, an imprint of Harper Collins, in
      the United Kingdom
novel The Box Garden is published by Penguin in the USA
novel Small Ceremonies is published by Penguin in the USA
film based on Swann is released
receives Hanover College Alumna Achievement Award
1997 novel Larry's Party is published by Random House Canada in Canada, and by Viking
      in the USA
Larry's Party is short-listed for Giller Prize
Larry's Party is nominated for The Guardian Fiction Prize in the UK
Publishers Weekly chooses Larry's Party as a favourite book of the year
play Thirteen Hands is shortlisted for the Dora Mavor Moore Award
1998 appointed Officer of the Order of Canada (invested by the Governor General of Canada
      in Ottawa in 1999)
made a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada
awarded Honourary Doctorates by University of Toronto (Letters), Concordia University      (Laws), University of Western Ontario (Letters)
wins The Orange Prize for Larry's Party
play Anniversary (co-authored with Dave Williamson) is published by Blizzard Press
      in Canada
travels to China to participate in a three-day seminar on her writing.
wins Prix de Lire for Larry's Party in France
1999 awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship to spend sabbatical year in London
appointed Professor Emerita by University of Manitoba
short story is published in Saturday Night magazine
made guest curator at The Glenbow Museum in Calgary
2000 appointed Chancellor Emerita by University of Winnipeg
receives Honourary Doctorates from Carleton University (Literature), and Wilfred
     Laurier University (Literature)
short story collection Dressing Up For The Carnival is published by Random House
     Canada in Canada, and by Viking in the USA
honoured by the Government of France by being named Chevalier dans l'ordres
     des Arts et des Lettres (Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters)
radio play Sisters Under the Skin is broadcast by CBC
2001 awarded The Order of Manitoba
Larry's Party adapted into a musical by Richard Ouzounian and Marek Norman;
      performed inToronto, Ottawa and Winnipeg
named Winnipeg Citizen of the Year with a life-size bronze bust mounted in the
     Alley of Honour, Assiniboine Park, Winnipeg
receives Honourary Doctorates from Lakehead University (Letters), University
     of Victoria (Letters), and University of Calgary (Laws)
biography Jane Austen is published by Weidenfeld and Nicolson in England, and by      Lipper/Viking in the USA in the Penguin Lives series of biographies
edits (with Marjorie Anderson) Dropped Threads: What We Aren't Told
film Life and Times of Carol Shields airs on Canadian Broadcasting Corporation television
named one of McLean's Magazine's "Acclaimed Persons of the Year".
2002 elevated to Canada's highest honour, Companion of the Order of Canada
awarded the Queen Elizabeth Golden Jubilee Medal
wins The Charles Taylor Prize for Literary Non-Fiction for Jane Austen
novel Unless is published by Random House Canada in Canada, and by Fourth
      Estate in the United Kingdom and the USA
Unless is short-listed for the Man Booker Prize
Unless is short-listed for the Scotia Bank/Giller Prize
Unless wins Ethel Wilson Prize for best British Columbia fiction of the year
film Dressing Up for the Carnival: A portrait of Carol Shields broadcast on British
      Broadcasting Corporation television
awarding of the first Carol Shields Creative Writing Award to a Red River College
      student (co-sponsored by the Manitoba Writers Guild)
2003 edits (with Marjorie Anderson) Dropped Threads 2: More of What We Aren't Told
awarded the Libris Author of the Year Award by The Canadian Booksellers Association
Unless is short-listed Fiction Book of the Year, Canadian Booksellers Association
Unless is short-listed for the Orange Prize
awarded Honourary Doctorates by The University of Manitoba (Letters), and Malaspina
      University and College (Letters)
Carol Shields: The Arts of a Writing Life, a collection of essays, memoirs and interviews
      by Neil Besner (Ed.), published by Turnstone Press
Prairie Fire Magazine Special Issue: Carol Shields: The Arts of a Writing Life
dies at home in Victoria on July 16
Posthumously
2003 movie based on The Republic of Love launched at Toronto Film Festival
academic essays on Carol and her work are published: Carol Shields, Narrative
      Hunger and Possibilities of Fiction
, ed. Dee Goertz and Edward Eden, University
      of Toronto Press
2004 six short films based on six of Carol's short stories (Hazel, Windows, Various
      Miracles
, A Wood, The Harp and Dolls, Dolls, Dolls, Dolls) are released
2004 a tree is planted between the Oak Park Public Library and Scoville Park in honour
      of Carol Shields
2005 Unless adapted into a stage play by Carol and daughter Sara Cassidy; is performed
      in Toronto, Vancouver and Scarborough, England
2006 Unless: The Play is performed in Victoria
2007 initial awarding to an Oak Park and River Forest High School student of Class of
     1953 Award in Memory of Carol Warner Shields
academic essays on Carol and her work are published: Carol Shields and the
      Extra- ordinary
, Ed. Marta Dvorak and Manina Jones, McGill-Queen's University Press
a compendium of emails and letters between Blanche Howard and Carol Shields
     is published: A Memoir of Friendship: Letters Between Carol Shields and
     Blanche Howard
, ed. Blanche Howard and Allison Howard, Penguin Canada
a memoir is published by Eleanor Wachtel: Random Illuminations, Conversations
      with Carol Shields
, Goose Lane Publishers
a compendium of emails is published: The Staircase Letters, Arthur Motyer
      with Elma Gerwin and Carol Shields
, ed. Arthur Motyer, Random House Canada
2008 Liminal Spaces: The Double Art of Carol Shields, by Alex Ramon is published by
      Cambridge Scholars Publishing
2009 Unless is on Times of London's 100 Best Books of the Decade list.
Carol Shields: Evocation and Echo, a collection of literary responses from critics,
      friends and fellow writers, by Conny Steenman-Marcusse (Ed.) and
      Aritha van Herk (Ed.) published by Barkhuis     
2014 23 contributors offer new insights, theories, and perspectives about Shields'
      illuminating career in The Worlds of Carol Shields, edited by David Staines,
      published by University of Ottawa Press
2016 Carol Shields and the Writer-Critic by Brenda Beckman-Long, a reappraisal
      of Shields' work contributes to the scholarship on life writing and autobiography,
      literary criticism andfeminist and critical theory, published by University of Toronto
      Press
The film version of Unless debuts at the Toronto International Film Festival
Commemorative bust to honour Carol Shields unveiled at the University of Manitoba
2017 Thirteen Hands produced at the Alumnae Theatre in Toronto
2019 Unless on BBC list of 100 Novels that Shaped Our World
2020 Carol Shields Literary Prize for Fiction launched
2022 inducted to the Chicago Literary Hall of Fame

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