ZADIE SMITH

Zadie Smith is an exceptionally gifted writer. Now we can note that she was born in a north-west borough of London in 1975. Born to a Jamaican mother and an English father, she was one more contribution to the city´s multicultural spirit.

She was first interested in tap dancing, then devoted to musical theatre, later interested in jazz, journalism... and literature, of course. Yes, multicultured and multipassionate.

When she was 22 years old, still studying in Cambridge and mixing in, she wrote her first novel, White Teeth. Her first publication was dynamic and complex, fresh and contemporary, significant and hilarious. More than anything, it was brilliant. And it was a best-seller. Almost immediately, British and American readers found in her a generational star, the future of literature. But was that too much for a 22 year old?

Success can be sweet like a kiss, but thick as mud too. The truth is White Teeth was a resonant success and has also been an iron weight throughout her career. No wonder Zadie Smith was under pressure and admitted suffering from writer’s block. Fortunately, she continued writing and living her own life: teaching, getting married, reviewing books, raising her daughters, winning prizes... And being quite successful at ignoring what others might think.

Her talent and ability to overcome pressure could stem from the same strength, the same understanding of the complexity of the human soul. Or maybe she doesn’t need to understand, but she needs to write, please.

Juanma García Esteban

Coordinador del programa "Enseñarte"