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Maggie Shipstead

マギー・シップステッド

Maggie Shipstead

Profile

Gender
Female
Born
1983 （Mission Viejo, California, U.S.）
Nationality
United States
Languages
English
Residence History
Los Angeles, California, U.S.

Career

Occupations
novelist, short story author, essayist, travel writer
Active Years
2005-

Education

Harvard University
Degree: BA
Year of Graduation: 2005
Country: United States
Took a creative writing course by Zadie Smith while at Harvard
Iowa Writers' Workshop (University of Iowa)
Degree: MFA
Country: United States
Earned an MFA; later awarded a Stegner Fellowship

Awards

Stegner Fellowship
Organization: Stanford University (Stegner Program)
Result: 受賞
Dylan Thomas Prize
2012
Work: Seating Arrangements
Organization: Dylan Thomas Prize organization
Result: 受賞
Los Angeles Times Book Prize (First Fiction)
2012
Work: Seating Arrangements
Category: First Fiction
Organization: Los Angeles Times
Result: 受賞
National Endowment for the Arts (grant)
2020
Organization: National Endowment for the Arts
Result: 助成
Booker Prize
2021
Work: Great Circle
Organization: The Booker Prizes
Result: ショートリスト
Women's Prize for Fiction
2022
Work: Great Circle
Organization: Women's Prize for Fiction
Result: ノミネート

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

Seating Arrangements

2012 Novel (debut)

A ensemble novel set over a wedding weekend on a fictional, affluent New England island, exploring social class and interpersonal dynamics with wit and insight.

classfamily dynamicshumor

Astonish Me

2014 Novel (ballet-themed historical romance)

Spanning decades from 1977, the novel revolves around the ballet world, exploring love, ambition, and devotion to art across generations.

artistic devotionromancecoming of age

Great Circle

2021 Novel (historical fiction; dual narrative)

A dual narrative following a mid-20th-century female aviator, Marian Graves, and a contemporary actress portraying her, addressing sexism in aviation, adventure, and the longing for freedom.

female independenceaviation and adventurehistory and memory
Adaptations
  • [Television (optioned)] Great Circle

You Have a Friend in 10A

2022 Short story collection

A collection of short stories, many previously published in journals, exploring contemporary relationships, solitude, and travel through varied characters and settings.

relationshipslonelinesstravel

Bibliography

  • Seating Arrangements (2012)
  • Astonish Me (2014)
  • Great Circle (2021)
  • You Have a Friend In 10A: Stories (2022)

Adaptations

  • Great Circle - TV series optioned by Picturestart (Shipstead serving as executive producer)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
detailed description and intricate characterisationcross-genre (historical fiction, contemporary fiction, short stories)multi-layered narratives with shifting narrators
Recurring Motifs
travel and movementfemale ambition and independencefamily and intergenerational relationshipsaviation / flight

Legacy

Recognized as a prominent contemporary American writer. She won multiple awards for her debut and gained international acclaim with Great Circle (2021), which was shortlisted for the Booker Prize. Known for cross-genre work and themes of travel and aviation.

In Popular Culture

  • TV series option for Great Circle

Quotes

  • ‘Great Circle’ is a soaring work of historical fiction.
    Source: The Washington Post (review) (2021)

Trivia

  • Placed in a gifted program based on an IQ test as a child.
  • Former competitive equestrian rider.
  • Took Zadie Smith's creative writing course at Harvard, which influenced her decision to become a writer.
  • Has a dog named Gus.
  • After the Iowa Writers' Workshop, was awarded a Stegner Fellowship.