Zadie Smith Biography
Zadie Smith is a popular English short-story writer, author, and essayist whose first novel White Teeth was released in 2000. In September 2010, Zadie began working at New York University as a tenured professor in the Creative Writing department. During her time at Cambridge University, she auditioned fruitlessly for the Cambridge Footlights.
At Cambridge, Zadie released several short stories in a collection of new learner writing named The Mays Anthology. They caught the attention of a publisher, who gave her a contract for her first book. Zadie decided to call a literary agent and was taken on by A. P. Watt. In 2001, she came back to guest-edit the anthology. Zadie was also voted into the American Academy of Arts & Sciences in 2023.
It was reported in 2015 that she and her partner Nick Laird were writing the screenplay for a science fiction film and its director was French filmmaker Claire Denis. Zadie’s fifth novel, Swing Time, was released in November 2016. Swing Time drew encouragement from her childhood love of tap dancing. In 2017, the novel was longlisted for the Man Booker Prize.
Quick Facts
| Age | October 25, 1975 (age 49) |
| Parents | Yvonne Bailey and Harvey Smith |
| Education | King’s College, Cambridge (BA) |
| Husband | Nick Laird (m. 2004) |
| Brother | Doc Brown |
Zadie Smith Age
Zadie was born on October 25, 1975, in London, England. She is 49 years old. Zadie celebrates her birthday on October 25, every year.
Early Life And Education
She was born in London, England, to parents Yvonne Bailey, an Afro-Jamaican, and Harvey Smith. When Zadie was 14, she changed her name from Sadie to Zadie. Her mom was raised in Jamaica and came to England in 1969. When Zadie was a teenager her parents divorced. She holds English nationality. Zadie has two younger brothers named Doc Brown, a rapper and stand-up comedian, and Luc Skyz also a rapper. In addition, she has two half-siblings.
Zadie studied at Malorees Junior School and Hampstead Comprehensive School. She later joined King’s College, Cambridge, where she pursued English literature. Afterward, Zadie graduated with upper second-class honors.
Zadie Smith Husband
Zadie is married to her husband Nick Laird. Her husband is a Northern Irish author and poet. Zadie and Nick met at Cambridge University and married in King’s College Chapel, Cambridge, in 2004. From November 2006 to 2007, the two resided in Rome, Italy. Zadie and Nick have two children, Harvey and Katherine.
Zadie Smith Author
She is an author whose first book White Teeth was considered as one of the best 100 English-language fiction works by TIME magazine. Zadie has authored 5 books among other works. She authored her first play titled The Wife of Willesden in 2021. In 2002. she was voted a fellow of the Royal Society of Literature, and in 2003, she was named one of Granta’s 20 Best Young British Novelists, and in 2013. Zadie’s first novel won many literary awards, including the James Tait Black Memorial Prize and the Guardian First Book Award.
Books
Zadie has authored many books which include:
- White Teeth in 2000.
- On Beauty in 2005.
- NW in 2012.
- Northwest in 2013.
- Swing Time in 2016.
- Feel Free in 2018.
- Grand Union in 2019.
- Weirdo in 2021.
- The Surprise in 2022.
- The Fraud in 2023.
Essays
- Changing My Mind.
- Feel Free.
Intimations
In 2020 Zadie released six essays in a collection entitled Intimations. The essays talk about topics such as creative writing, the covid 19, and the killing of George Floyd.
Bibliography
Novels
- White Teeth was published in 2000.
- The Autograph Man was published in 2002.
- On Beauty was published in 2005.
- NW was published in 2012.
- Swing Time was published in 2016.
- The Fraud was published in 2023.
Plays
- The Wife of Willesden (2021)
Short fiction
- Collections
- Grand Union: Stories (2019).
- Martha and Hanwell (2005).
White Teeth
On January 27, 2000, Zadie published her first novel White Teeth which became a best-seller and received several awards. The novel received the 2000 James Tait Black Memorial Prize for fiction. In 2022, White Teeth was on the “Big Jubilee Read” list of 70 books by Commonwealth writers. The novel was introduced to the publishing globe in 1997 before it was finished.
On Beauty
In 2005, Zadie published her book titled On Beauty which follows the lives of a mixed-race British/American family residing in the United States. On Beauty was shortlisted for the 2005 Man Booker Prize on September 8, 2005.
New Book
On September 7, 2023, Zadie published her new book The Fraud which became an instant Sunday Times bestseller. The book is about how in a globe of hypocrisy and self-deception, deciding what’s true can prove a complicated task.
Swing Time
In November 2016, Zadie published his novel Swing Time which focuses on two girls who can tap dance, alluding to her childhood love of tap dancing. Swing Time received mostly positive reviews. It references Zadie’s debut novel White Teeth.
Northwest
In 2012, Zadie published her novel NW which takes its title from the NW postcode area in North-West London. NW is experimental and follows four different characters residing in London. The novel was generally praised by critics.
Height
Zadie is a woman of above-average stature who stands at a height of 5 ft 7 in (approx. 1.7 m).
Net Worth
Zadie’s net worth is $24 million. She gets her wealth from her work as an author, essayist, and professor.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who Is Zadie Smith’s Husband?
Since 2004, Zadie has been married to novelist and poet Nick Laird. The couple has two kids named Harvey and Katherine.
How Old is Zadie Smith?
Zadie is a 49-year-old who was born on October 25, 1975, in London, England.
Where Does Zadie Smith Live?
Zadie resides in New York, where she is a tenured professor at New York University.
Who Is Zadie Smith?
Zadie is an author, essayist, and professor whose first book, White Teeth was considered as one of the best 100 English-language fiction works by TIME magazine. She has authored 5 books among other works. Zadie authored her first play titled The Wife of Willesden in 2021. Middlemarch by George Eliot is her best book. Following tutoring fiction at Columbia Campus School of the Arts, she joined New York University as a fiction professor.