Justin Cartwright
Justin Cartwright
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Full Name and Common Aliases
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Justin Cartwright was a South African-born British novelist and journalist.
Early Life and Background
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Born on November 24, 1943, in London, England, to a South African family, Cartwright spent his early years in Johannesburg. His father, Sir Alexander Cartwright, was a diplomat who served as the High Commissioner for Southern Africa in London during World War II. This mixed cultural background would later influence Cartwright's writing.
Nationality and Profession(s)
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Cartwright held dual British-South African citizenship. He worked as a journalist before becoming a full-time writer.
Major Accomplishments
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Cartwright was the winner of several awards, including:
The Guardian Fiction Prize in 1989 for his novel "In Every Geranium"
The Whitbread Book Award for Novel in 1990
Notable Works or Actions
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Some of Cartwright's notable works include:
"In Every Geranium" (1988): A novel that explores the complexities of South African society under apartheid.
"Other People's Wars" (1993): A collection of essays on various conflicts, including the Gulf War and Bosnia.
Impact and Legacy
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Cartwright's writing often grappled with themes of identity, morality, and politics. His works provided a unique perspective on international issues and were praised for their thought-provoking commentary.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
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Justin Cartwright is remembered as an astute observer of global events and a nuanced storyteller. His ability to weave complex ideas into engaging narratives has left a lasting impact on readers worldwide. His writing continues to be widely quoted in discussions about politics, history, and culture.
Note: This biography is written based on publicly available information.
Quotes by Justin Cartwright
The point about 'state-of-the-nation' novels is not that they should be about the 'state-of-the-nation', but they should be about people.
The great thing about the public is that they're quite capable of believing two absolutely contrary views at the same time.
There's this idea of bankers retiring and painting watercolours. You can't dabble in art - it's a life. Being a writer, an artist... is a whole life.
I was lucky to get to Oxford. I am now an honorary fellow of my old college, which is nice, particularly for a colonial like me.
This Oscar Pistorius business is interesting. There is this cult of carrying lots of guns and being ready to shoot somebody. There were people I knew had guns and carried them openly around Johannesburg. It is frowned on now to carry a gun, but Pistorius and co. got away with it.
Nadine Gordimer came over just before she died. She didn't want to talk about books or the arts, but about the abuse of the constitution by the government.
I suppose on the filmmaking side, you can learn how to cram a lot into a small space. But I think that advertising, even on what is called the creative side, is incredibly easy if you have that kind of mind. A lot of people regard it as Machiavellian and dangerous, but, in fact, it is morally neutral.
If I was at home, I'd find myself checking email and looking at the Internet when I should be working. In the library, I can get an awful lot done in a couple of hours, but it can become quite sociable, which you have to watch out for. There are a lot of people you can pop out and have a coffee with.
I thought that, post-apartheid, there would be absolutely no interest in South Africa. That has been both true and untrue. The major writers like Gordimer and Coetzee have produced major books. But some of the more minor writers have drifted away.
Winning the Whitbread was a very major thing for me. I'd always been well reviewed, but this made me widely read.