Sheila Heti
Encyclopedia
Sheila Heti is a Canadian
writer.
Heti, who was born in Toronto
, Ontario
, studied art history and philosophy at the University of Toronto
and playwriting at the National Theatre School of Canada
.
Heti's novel, Ticknor, was released in 2005. It borrows as its main characters William Hickling Prescott and George Ticknor
, though it alters the facts of their lives. It was published by House of Anansi
in Canada, Farrar, Straus & Giroux in the United States, and Éditions Phébus in France. Her short story collection, The Middle Stories, was published by House of Anansi in Canada and McSweeney's
in the United States, and translated into German
, French
, Spanish
, and Dutch
.
She is the creator of Trampoline Hall
, a popular lecture series based in Toronto and New York, at which people speak on subjects outside their areas of expertise. The New Yorker
praised the series for "celebrating eccentricity and do-it-yourself inventiveness." It has sold out every show since its inception in December 2001.
She is a frequent contributor to Geist magazine.
She appears in Margaux Williamson
's film, Teenager Hamlet 2006.
She plays Lenore Doolan in Leanne Shapton
's book, Important Artifacts and Personal Property from the Collection of Lenore Doolan and Harold Morris, including Books, Street Fashion, and Jewelry.
In September, 2010, Heti published a new novel, How Should a Person Be?, which she describes as book of constructed reality, based on recorded interviews with her friends, particularly the painter Margaux Williamson. In her 2007 interview with Dave Hickey
for The Believer
, she noted, "Increasingly I’m less interested in writing about fictional people, because it seems so tiresome to make up a fake person and put them through the paces of a fake story. I just — I can’t do it."
Writing
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
writer.
Heti, who was born in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, studied art history and philosophy at the University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
and playwriting at the National Theatre School of Canada
National Theatre School of Canada
The National Theatre School of Canada is a private college located in Montreal, Quebec.Established in Montreal in 1960, the National Theatre School of Canada offers professional training in English and French in a setting that unites all the theatre arts: acting, playwriting, directing, set and...
.
Heti's novel, Ticknor, was released in 2005. It borrows as its main characters William Hickling Prescott and George Ticknor
George Ticknor
George Ticknor was an American academician and Hispanist, specializing in the subject areas of languages and literature. He is known for his scholarly work on the history and criticism of Spanish literature....
, though it alters the facts of their lives. It was published by House of Anansi
House of Anansi Press
House of Anansi Press is a Canadian publishing company, founded in 1967 by writers Dennis Lee and Dave Godfrey. The company specializes in finding and developing new Canadian writers of literary fiction, poetry, and non-fiction....
in Canada, Farrar, Straus & Giroux in the United States, and Éditions Phébus in France. Her short story collection, The Middle Stories, was published by House of Anansi in Canada and McSweeney's
McSweeney's
McSweeney's is an American publishing house founded by editor Dave Eggers.Apart from its book list, McSweeney's is responsible for four regular publications: the quarterly literary journal,...
in the United States, and translated into German
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
, French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
, Spanish
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
, and Dutch
Dutch language
Dutch is a West Germanic language and the native language of the majority of the population of the Netherlands, Belgium, and Suriname, the three member states of the Dutch Language Union. Most speakers live in the European Union, where it is a first language for about 23 million and a second...
.
She is the creator of Trampoline Hall
Trampoline Hall
Trampoline Hall is a barroom lecture series started by Canadian author Sheila Heti in Toronto. It has been sold out consistently since 2001.- Format :Trampoline Hall is held every month...
, a popular lecture series based in Toronto and New York, at which people speak on subjects outside their areas of expertise. The New Yorker
The New Yorker
The New Yorker is an American magazine of reportage, commentary, criticism, essays, fiction, satire, cartoons and poetry published by Condé Nast...
praised the series for "celebrating eccentricity and do-it-yourself inventiveness." It has sold out every show since its inception in December 2001.
She is a frequent contributor to Geist magazine.
She appears in Margaux Williamson
Margaux Williamson
Margaux Williamson is a Canadian artist, born in the United States. She lives in Toronto.She has exhibited her work in Toronto, New York, Los Angeles, Vancouver and elsewhere...
's film, Teenager Hamlet 2006.
She plays Lenore Doolan in Leanne Shapton
Leanne Shapton
Leanne Shapton is a Canadian artist and graphic novelist, now living in New York. Her second work, Important Artifacts and Personal Property From the Collection of Lenore Doolan and Harold Morris, Including Books, Street Fashion and Jewelry, has been optioned for a film slated to star Brad Pitt and...
's book, Important Artifacts and Personal Property from the Collection of Lenore Doolan and Harold Morris, including Books, Street Fashion, and Jewelry.
In September, 2010, Heti published a new novel, How Should a Person Be?, which she describes as book of constructed reality, based on recorded interviews with her friends, particularly the painter Margaux Williamson. In her 2007 interview with Dave Hickey
Dave Hickey
David Hickey is an American art and cultural critic. He has written for many American publications including Rolling Stone, Art News, Art in America, Artforum, Harper's Magazine, and Vanity Fair...
for The Believer
The Believer (magazine)
The Believer is a United States literary magazine that also covers other arts and general culture. Founded and designed in 2003 by the writer and publisher Dave Eggers, it is edited by Vendela Vida, Heidi Julavits and Ed Park...
, she noted, "Increasingly I’m less interested in writing about fictional people, because it seems so tiresome to make up a fake person and put them through the paces of a fake story. I just — I can’t do it."
External links
- Sheila Heti's website
- Trampoline Hall
- Audio interview with Bill Richardson on the CBC
- Sheila Heti at GeistGeist (magazine)Geist is Canada's most widely read literary magazine. Geist is published four times a year in Vancouver since 1990. The magazine takes its name from the German word geist, meaning "mind" or "spirit."...
.com
Writing