Picture an English storyteller who spins tales where history and heart collide—meet Nell Stevens! This award-winning author and academic has carved a unique niche with her memoirs and fiction, blending personal reflection with historical intrigue. From her windswept retreat on Bleaker Island to her soulful exploration of Victorian love, Stevens’s work invites readers into worlds both intimate and expansive.
With a knack for turning her own experiences into universal stories, Stevens has captivated audiences through books like the Somerset Maugham Award-winning Mrs Gaskell and Me and her playful debut novel, Briefly, A Delicious Life. As an assistant professor at the University of Warwick, she’s also shaping the next generation of writers with her passion for creative storytelling.
The Making of Nell Stevens
Born in 1985 in Oxford, England, Nell Stevens grew up in a world of ideas, with a GP father and an economics academic mother. Educated at Oxford High School, she pursued English and Creative Writing at the University of Warwick, later diving into Arabic studies at Harvard and earning an MFA in Fiction at Boston University. Her PhD in Victorian literature from King’s College London sharpened her love for historical narratives, setting the stage for her genre-blending career. Stevens’s global adventures, from working in a Lebanese refugee camp to living in Syria, fueled her curiosity and shaped her distinctive voice.
Nell Stevens’s Unforgettable Stories
Stevens’s debut memoir, Bleaker House (2017), is a quirky, heartfelt account of her attempt to write a novel on a remote Falkland Island. With only penguins and a single potato for company, she explores the messy line between life and fiction, delivering humor and raw honesty. Her follow-up, Mrs Gaskell and Me (2018, published as The Victorian and the Romantic in North America), won the 2019 Somerset Maugham Award. This memoir intertwines Stevens’s own love story with that of Victorian novelist Elizabeth Gaskell, creating a poignant dialogue across centuries.
In 2022, Stevens debuted her novel Briefly, A Delicious Life, a vibrant tale narrated by a teenage ghost observing Frédéric Chopin and George Sand in 1838 Mallorca. Praised for its lush depiction of desire and creativity, it showcases her ability to breathe life into historical figures. Her upcoming novel, The Original, set for 2025, promises more of her signature blend of wit and depth. Stevens’s style—frank, lyrical, and playfully introspective—makes her work both accessible and profound, published in outlets like The New York Times and The Paris Review.
Why Nell Stevens Matters
Nell Stevens’s work resonates because it bridges the personal and the historical, inviting readers to reflect on love, creativity, and identity. Her genre-blending approach has earned her accolades, including a BBC National Short Story Award shortlisting in 2018, and a loyal following. Through her teaching at Warwick and appearances on BBC Radio 4’s Open Book, she champions diverse voices, particularly in historical fiction and autofiction. Stevens’s ability to find humor and meaning in isolation or unrequited love makes her a vital voice in contemporary literature.
- Born: 1985, Oxford, England
- Key Works: Bleaker House, Mrs Gaskell and Me, Briefly, A Delicious Life
- Awards: 2019 Somerset Maugham Award, BBC National Short Story Award shortlist (2018)
- Fun Fact: She once saved a potato as a trophy during her Bleaker Island writing retreat!
Snag Briefly, A Delicious Life and dive into Nell Stevens’s enchanting world of history, humor, and heart!