The respected author Carol Shields has died in British Columbia, Canada at the age of 68. After raising five children and living as what she called a "typical" 1950s housewife, Shields "took a master's degree, got involved in left-wing politics, learned French and gradually woke up."
She has written more than 20 books, including poetry, essays and a recent biography of Jane Austen, and her writing has been translated into 22 languages.
Shields was featured on the longlist for this year's Orange Prize for her novel Unless, which she wrote following learning she had stage three breast cancer in 1998.
What were your favourite Carol Shields books? Which anecdotes have you most enjoyed about her? Send us your tributes to the author.
Thank you for your tributes to Carol Shields. Read a selection of your comments below.
Carol Shields will be very missed. I for one enjoyed organising literary events with her as a participant - she was always gracious and had a delightful sense of humour.
Julia Jahansoozi, UK / Canada I can't believe that there won't be any more books by Carol Shields. It's a sad day for book lovers everywhere and my heart goes out to her family. I only "discovered" Ms Shields little over a year ago, but in that time I've read several of her books and the warmth and love of her personality shines through her writing.
Christine, UK
As a independent bookstore owner in a small town in Kansas, I came across Shields' "The Stone Diaries". It is such a beautiful, lyrical, and powerful book that upon completing it, I immediately turned back to the first page and began reading it again. It provided all of my employees with complimentary copies and we spent many memorable hours sharing our favourite passages.
Susan Harmison, USA
Ms Shields was a tirelessly generous supporter of the writers in Winnipeg where she lived for many years. As the partner of a writer, I occasionally attend readings but not as many as she and her husband Don. She took a personal interest in everyone who came to her for advice on writing or getting published, and would give practical support where she could. We will miss her very much, not just for her mentorship, but as one of the loveliest people you could meet.
Sean Richens, Canada
As an A-level lecturer, I have enjoyed freedom of choice over what to teach my students for their independent studies. This year I chose The Stone Diaries, a book rich in its simplicity, beautiful in its language, and memorable for its execution. Carol Shields death has robbed the world of a talent which clearly still had a lot to give.
Val, UK
Republic of Love. Only Carol Shields could have made Winnipeg, far from any sea, synonymous with mermaids.
Tracey Keryluk, Canada
Carol showed that "ordinary" women's lives can be as extraordinary each in their way as that of Ulysses. When I've read her other books, I'll go back and re-read them all.
Stephanie, USA
Carol Shields was a phenomenon, not only in the literary world, but as a woman. She blessed my life with incredible characters who all became friends, rich prose and wonderment through poetry and playwriting. With the news of her passing I propped up her books and lit a moon-shaped candle in her honour, listened to her read Larry's Party and had a little cry. My life and my approach to the page with my pen has been influenced and inspired by her work and her talent.
Nicole, Canada
Her stories were work of art in the way she would give life to her characters. No matter what she wrote you could almost see the smile on her face as she writing. She wrote for herself first... and we should be very thankful that she let us peek over her shoulder and she shared what she had written. She will be greatly missed in Canada and around the world!
Judie Sollows, Nova Scotia, Canada
 |  I was immediately attracted to her work  |
Many years ago a friend gave me The Box Garden to read. I was intrigued and delighted by how she worked with the images and the small things she gave importance to. I was immediately attracted to her work and felt that while this novel and others I read were quite interesting and different I didn't think she would ever write "the great Canadian novel". Then came The Stone Diaries... wow! I managed to find some funds to buy some copies for students and they loved it as well.
Janice Sexton, Canada I loved Carol Shields' novels - I felt as though I knew Winnipeg and Canada, and especially liked the warmth and humanity, along with the quirkiness, of her characters. It's hard to name a favourite, but The Stone Diaries was certainly one.
Dee Abrahamse, USA
An amazing writer and an amazing person. A huge loss for the literary world.
Shelley Savor, Canada
Shields was an extraordinary writer of exceptional talent. She was a turret of inspiration to all young female writers everywhere
Ingrid Newman, UK
| I encourage everyone to read her novels |
Carol Shields was a major novelist, much more accomplished and bracing than you would ever imagine listening to her critics or indeed the majority of her supporters. She was extraordinarily acute at conveying the texture of relationships between men and women and that of everyday life as large choices loom within it. In five years of reading the profile in the middle of the culture section of The Guardian, she was the first person to come over as at all interesting. I encourage everyone to read her novels.
Michael, UK / USA Very sad news. I, personally, could not get enough of her writing. She once signed a copy of Happenstance on both sides to my husband and myself. I will take good care of it. She will be greatly missed.
Deborah Lees, Canada
How apt that Carol Shield should be Jane Austen's biographer - both women shared a fine sensibility for those minor social absurdities that matter so much in everyone's lives. Larry's Party is a wonderful book: sad, funny and tender.
Kevin, Poland
| Carol Shields was an inspiration in both her writing and her personal life journey |
Carol Shields was an inspiration in both her writing and her personal life journey. It is so refreshing to encounter someone of such enormous talent and clarity who breaks the mould of the tortured genius creator, and offers a model for millions of women - and men - living ordinary lives that come to embrace creativity. Her work and her person will be dearly missed.
Maribeth, USA Carol shows the world that a woman's mind and heart are capable of the most soaringly spirited writing. Her spirit itself soars.
Mary Mitchell, USA
I started with The Stone Diaries and it was the first book I was ever able to share with my mother and discuss... We loved it. I went on to read her other books and they never failed to touch me. I always needed to share the good news of reading them with like-minded friends. Recently I read Unless, I am so so sorry to miss all the great things she would still have written. More importantly I would like to send heartfelt sympathy to her family and friends. She must have been a lovely person.
Lucy Sobrero, UK
Her writing was graceful, simple and conveyed the complexities of ordinary human life. I know her work will be read many years to come.
Omar, USA
I browsed through Larry's Party in London back in 1999, and found it interesting enough to buy it. It is a wonderful book about the life of a man, across several decades. A mirror of our lives. Thank you, Carol Shields.
Patrick Lee, UK
| Shields brought love and clarity to bear on ordinary women's lives |
It is hard to imagine Carol Shields not being around for ever - I particularly loved The Republic of Love and Mary Swann as well as Unless. Shields brought love and clarity, with humour as well as seriousness to bear on ordinary - and therefore extraordinary - women's lives. Thank you, Carol, for these gifts to the rest of us.
Hilary Belden, UK I am greatly saddened by the news of Carol Shields' death. I just graduated from grade twelve, wherein my class read Larry's Party, a book that truly inspired and uplifted me. She will be greatly missed.
Caitlin, Canada
A wonderful, gifted writer whose voice made the ordinary extraordinary.
Sophie, UK
It is a terrible shame there will be no more books by Carol Shields. I have read all her books and the only good thing to come from her death is that it has inspired me to go back and re-read them, to rediscover what I enjoyed so much about them. Her books are so well written and yet so down to earth, with characters it is easy to relate to and empathise with. I hope she did not suffer too much with her illness.
Rebecca, UK
One-Minute World News 
News services
E-mail this to a friend 
Printable version 
