Jhumpa Lahiri

Born:

July 11, 1967, London, England

Nationality:

American

Profession(s):

Author, Essayist, Translator, Professor

Early Life and Education

• Born Nilanjana Sudeshna Lahiri in London to Bengali Indian immigrant parents.
• Raised in South Kingstown, Rhode Island, United States.
• Received a B.A. in English from Barnard College in 1989.
• Earned multiple degrees from Boston University, including an M.A. in English, an M.F.A. in Creative Writing, an M.A. in Comparative Literature, and a Ph.D. in Renaissance Studies.

Career and Major Achievements

• Began publishing short stories in the 1990s.
• Won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 2000 for her debut short story collection, Interpreter of Maladies.
• Her novel, The Namesake, was adapted into a film in 2006.
• Served as a professor of creative writing at Princeton University.
• Later moved to Rome and began writing primarily in Italian.
• Served as director of creative writing at Barnard College.

Notable Works

• Interpreter of Maladies (1999) - Short Story Collection
• The Namesake (2003) - Novel
• Unaccustomed Earth (2008) - Short Story Collection - Many critics and readers considered Jhumpa Lahiri Unaccustomed Earth Review to be further proof of her mastery of the short story form.
• The Lowland (2013) - Novel
• In Other Words (2016) - Memoir written in Italian and translated into English
• Whereabouts (2021) - Novel written in Italian and translated into English

Awards and Recognition

Legacy and Impact

Jhumpa Lahiri is recognized as a significant contemporary author known for her poignant portrayals of the immigrant experience, cultural identity, and familial relationships, particularly focusing on the Bengali diaspora. Her work has broadened understanding and fostered empathy for those navigating multiple cultures.

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