Photo: Tony Sarowitz / CC BY-SA 4.0 (source: Wikimedia Commons)
Lionel Shriver, born on May 18, 1957 in Gastonia, North Carolina, United States, is a journalist, novelist and writer. That puts Lionel Shriver at 69 years old in 2026. Education on record includes Barnard College. Recorded honors include Women's Prize for Fiction (2005). Notable works include We Need to Talk About Kevin.
My Take
I am drawn to writers brave enough to confront what most of us would rather avoid, and Lionel Shriver is one of them. Her novel We Need to Talk About Kevin dissects the darkness between a mother and son with such unflinching honesty that it unsettles you while refusing to let you look away. It earned the Orange Prize, but what impresses me more is her refusal to soften ugly emotions into something palatable. A Gastonia-born, Columbia-educated author who even chose her own name, she lives and writes with a stubborn integrity. I respect an artist who never panders, and she clearly never does.
1. Profile
- Name (English)
- Lionel Shriver
- Name (Japanese)
- ライオネル・シュライヴァー
- Reading
- らいおねる・しゅらいゔぁー
- Born
- May 18, 1957 (age 69)
- Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
- Taurus / Rooster
- Origin
- Gastonia, North Carolina, United States
- Occupation
- journalist / novelist / writer
2. Background
- University
- Barnard College
Awards & achievements
- 2005 Women's Prize for Fiction
3. Works & records
| Category | Title | Role | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Notable work | We Need to Talk About Kevin | — |
4. Links
- Wikipedia (English)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lionel%20Shriver
- Wikidatahttps://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q622232
5. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
- 2026-06-17
Facts are limited to publicly available information up to 2024; non-public or unconfirmed items are omitted. English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.
Frequently asked questions
When was Lionel Shriver born?
Born May 18, 1957 (age 69).
Where is Lionel Shriver from?
Lionel Shriver is from Gastonia, North Carolina, United States.
What does Lionel Shriver do?
Lionel Shriver works as journalist, novelist, writer.
What is Lionel Shriver known for?
Notable works include We Need to Talk About Kevin.
Journalist — see all → · Novelist — see all → · More people from the United States →