Jessica Shattuck


Full Name and Common Aliases


Jessica Shattuck is an American author known for her historical fiction novels.

Birth and Death Dates


Born: 1972, exact date not publicly available. No notable passing dates recorded.

Nationality and Profession(s)


Nationality: American.
Profession: Author.

Early Life and Background


Growing up in Boston, Massachusetts, Shattuck developed an interest in history and literature from an early age. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Harvard University and went on to earn a Master's degree in Creative Writing from the University of Iowa Writers' Workshop.

Major Accomplishments


Shattuck's debut novel, "Nobody's Song," was published in 2012 but failed to gain significant recognition.
However, her second novel, "The Exiles" (2018), became a New York Times bestseller and received critical acclaim for its portrayal of the experiences of three American women living in London during World War II.

Notable Works or Actions


In addition to "The Exiles," Shattuck has published several short stories and essays that explore themes of history, identity, and human relationships. Her writing often delves into the complexities of family life and the ways in which personal experiences intersect with broader historical contexts.

Impact and Legacy


Through her novels, Shattuck offers readers a nuanced understanding of the past while also examining contemporary issues such as trauma, resilience, and the power of storytelling. Her ability to craft engaging narratives that balance historical accuracy with emotional depth has earned her a reputation as a talented and innovative writer.

Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered


Jessica Shattuck is widely quoted for her insightful observations on human experience and her skillful weaving together of historical fact and fictional narrative. Readers appreciate the way she brings forgotten stories to life, providing new perspectives on the complexities of the past while also illuminating timeless themes that continue to resonate in the present.

Shattuck's writing has been praised by critics and readers alike for its lyrical prose, well-developed characters, and thought-provoking exploration of major historical events. Her ability to craft compelling narratives that balance entertainment with intellectual rigor has made her a significant figure in contemporary literature.

Quotes by Jessica Shattuck

Benita held no reverence for anything old or historic. History was horrible, a long, sloppy tail of grief. It swished destructively behind the present, toppling everyone’s own personal understanding of the past.
"
Benita held no reverence for anything old or historic. History was horrible, a long, sloppy tail of grief. It swished destructively behind the present, toppling everyone’s own personal understanding of the past.
Hitler was a lunatic, a leader whose lowbrow appeal to people’s most selfish, self-pitying emotions and ignorance was an embarrassment for their country.
"
Hitler was a lunatic, a leader whose lowbrow appeal to people’s most selfish, self-pitying emotions and ignorance was an embarrassment for their country.
Yet here they were, carrying groceries, holding children’s hands, turning their collars up against the wind. As if their moments of truth – the decisions by which they would be judged and would judge themselves – hadn’t already come and passed.
"
Yet here they were, carrying groceries, holding children’s hands, turning their collars up against the wind. As if their moments of truth – the decisions by which they would be judged and would judge themselves – hadn’t already come and passed.
There is so much gray between the black and the white and this is where most of us live, trying, but so often failing, to bend towards the light.
"
There is so much gray between the black and the white and this is where most of us live, trying, but so often failing, to bend towards the light.
There is not enough air in the room for Marianne and Elizabeth to share. They have learned this the hard way, but acceptance of the fact has made life easier. Now they see each other twice a year, for a weekend in the early summer and for the American holiday of Thanksgiving.
"
There is not enough air in the room for Marianne and Elizabeth to share. They have learned this the hard way, but acceptance of the fact has made life easier. Now they see each other twice a year, for a weekend in the early summer and for the American holiday of Thanksgiving.
This music had been played and heard before and would be again, not only here in this church, but in places all over the world, by people living in different circumstances and different times.
"
This music had been played and heard before and would be again, not only here in this church, but in places all over the world, by people living in different circumstances and different times.
Americans can face the world with open arms, Marianne had once said, because the world hasn’t yet come to knock it down.
"
Americans can face the world with open arms, Marianne had once said, because the world hasn’t yet come to knock it down.
The child exasperated Marianne with her endless obsession with possession. She seemed to have absorbed the national sense of aggrievement, as if she, personally, were the victim of some great unfairness.
"
The child exasperated Marianne with her endless obsession with possession. She seemed to have absorbed the national sense of aggrievement, as if she, personally, were the victim of some great unfairness.
Martin was swept up in the sound – no longer blood and bone, frozen feet and hungry belly, but an empty vessel filling with notes, carried by something older and bigger and more permanent than himself.
"
Martin was swept up in the sound – no longer blood and bone, frozen feet and hungry belly, but an empty vessel filling with notes, carried by something older and bigger and more permanent than himself.
They had watched him make a masterwork of scapegoating Jews for Germany’s fall from power and persuade his followers that enlightenment, humanity, and tolerance were weaknesses – “Jewish” ideas that led to defeat.
"
They had watched him make a masterwork of scapegoating Jews for Germany’s fall from power and persuade his followers that enlightenment, humanity, and tolerance were weaknesses – “Jewish” ideas that led to defeat.
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