Shirley Hazzard

Shirley Hazzard (1931–2016) was an Australian-born author who moved to New York City at age 20 and worked at the United Nations before dedicating herself to writing. Her first short story appeared in The New Yorker in 1961, leading to acclaimed collections like Cliffs of Fall (1963) and novels such as The Transit of Venus (1980, National Book Critics Circle Award) and The Great Fire (2003, National Book Award). Known for her literary refinement and emotional depth, she also wrote nonfiction critiquing the UN and a memoir about Graham Greene, living between New York, Capri, and Naples.Encyclopaedia