Jane Rule
Jane Rule
Full Name and Common Aliases
Jane Elizabeth Urquhart Rule was a renowned Canadian author, known professionally as Jane Rule.
Birth and Death Dates
Born on March 2, 1931, in New Brunswick, Canada, Rule passed away on November 17, 2007, at the age of 76.
Nationality and Profession(s)
Nationality: Canadian
Profession(s): Author, Novelist, Essayist
Jane Rule was a prominent figure in Canadian literature, celebrated for her work as an author, novelist, and essayist. Her contributions to the literary world have left a lasting impact on readers worldwide.
Early Life and Background
Growing up in Rexton, New Brunswick, Canada, Jane Rule developed a passion for writing at an early age. Her love for storytelling was nurtured by her family, particularly her mother, who encouraged her creative pursuits. Rule's upbringing in a close-knit community instilled in her a strong sense of social responsibility and empathy, themes that would later become integral to her work.
Major Accomplishments
Throughout her career, Jane Rule achieved numerous accolades and milestones:
Her debut novel, Desert of the Heart (1964), was groundbreaking for its portrayal of lesbian relationships. The book's success helped pave the way for increased representation of LGBTQ+ individuals in literature.
Rule's subsequent works explored complex themes such as social justice, identity, and human relationships.
She received the Canadian Authors Association Award for The Leslie (1982), a novel that delved into issues of mental illness and personal struggle.Notable Works or Actions
Some of Jane Rule's most notable works include:
Desert of the Heart (1964) - A pioneering novel exploring lesbian relationships.
This Is My List (1977) - A collection of essays that examine identity, politics, and personal growth.
After the Fire: A Novel Based on a True Story (2001) - A fictionalized account of a fire that destroyed her childhood home.
Impact and Legacy
Jane Rule's influence extends far beyond her literary contributions. Her work has had a lasting impact on LGBTQ+ representation in literature, inspiring future generations of writers to explore complex themes and identities:
Trailblazer for LGBTQ+ Literature: Rule's pioneering novel Desert of the Heart helped pave the way for increased representation of LGBTQ+ individuals in literature.
Advocate for Social Justice: Her work continues to resonate with readers seeking to understand social issues and their impact on personal lives.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
Jane Rule's enduring legacy can be attributed to several factors:
Pioneering Spirit: As a trailblazer in LGBTQ+ literature, she helped break down barriers for marginalized communities.
Thought-Provoking Themes: Her work continues to resonate with readers seeking to understand complex social issues and their impact on personal lives.
* Timeless Relevance: Despite being written decades ago, her novels and essays remain relevant today, offering insights into universal human experiences.
Quotes by Jane Rule
As a writer, I must be free to say what is in all the diversity I can command. I regret the distorting prejudices that surround me, whether they affect homosexuals or men or the physically handicapped and I can’t alone defeat them. They will not defeat me, either as a lesbian or a writer.
Love is the terrible secret people are suspected of unless they’re married, then one always suspects they don’t.
The kinds of good friends I have are people who are perfectly willing to have me say I’ll see them in six months, and live right next door.
Evelyn wanted to be charming, provocative, desirable, attributes she had never aspired to before out of pride, perhaps, or fear of failure. Now they seemed most instinctive. She was finding, in the miracle of her particular fall, that she was, by nature, a woman. And what a lively thing it was to be, a woman.
Evelyn looked at Ann, the child she had always wanted, the friend she had once had, the lover she had never considered. Of course she wanted Ann. Pride, morality, and inexperience had kept her from admitting it frankly to herself from the first moment she had seen Ann.
I didn’t want to be a boy, ever, but I was outraged that his height and intelligence were graces for him and gaucheries for me.
I’ve never been resigned to ready-made ideas as I was to ready-made clothes, perhaps because although I couldn’t sew, I could think.
The message of women’s liberation is that women can love each other and ourselves against our degrading education.
If we don’t bear witness as citizens, as people, as individuals, the right that we have had to life is sacrificed. There is a silence, instead of a speaking presence.