Julia Phillips
Born1988 or 1989 (age 33–35)
Montclair, New Jersey, U.S.
EducationBarnard College (BA)
OccupationAuthor
Notable workDisappearing Earth
Websitejuliaphillipswrites.com

Julia Phillips (born February 4, 1988) is an American author. Her book Disappearing Earth was a finalist for the 2019 National Book Award for Fiction.

Early life and education

Phillips attended Montclair High School and earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Barnard College.[1] She spent a semester of college abroad in Moscow[2] and volunteered at the Crime Victims Treatment Center.[3]

Career

After graduating from college, Phillips earned a Fulbright Program grant allowing her to conduct research in Russia regarding how foreign investment and tourism have affected the Kamchatka Peninsula.[4] She also wrote blog posts for The Moscow Times.[5] During her time in Kamchatka, she began exploring the theme of what everyday harm or hurt against women looks like. She did not wish to pursue the narrative of trauma, but rather the everyday living experiences of women.[6] This eventually led to the publication of her debut novel Disappearing Earth in 2019, which was shortlisted for the 2019 National Book Award for Fiction.[7] The book, which was based on the fictional kidnapping of two girls in the Kamchatka Peninsula, was also named one of The New York Times Top 10 Best Books of 2019.[8]

References

  1. ^ "MHS Alumna & Author Returns to Her Roots". montclair.k12.nj.us. January 14, 2020. Retrieved February 18, 2020.
  2. ^ Batarags, Lisa (November 20, 2019). "How spending a year 4,600 miles from home on an isolated Russian peninsula brought an American writer's debut novel to the final round of the National Book Awards". businessinsider.com. Retrieved February 18, 2020.
  3. ^ "Julia Phillips: Debut Novelist And National Book Award Finalist". queenslibrary.org. January 24, 2020. Retrieved February 18, 2020.
  4. ^ "Barnard's 2011 Fulbright Recipients Announced". barnard.edu. May 9, 2011. Retrieved February 18, 2020.
  5. ^ Philips, Julia (August 13, 2012). "Goodbye". The Moscow Times. Retrieved February 18, 2020.
  6. ^ Kasradze, Anna (July 13, 2019). "Julia's Phillips' 'Disappearing Earth'". The Moscow Times. Retrieved February 18, 2020.
  7. ^ "EXCLUSIVE: The 2019 National Book Awards Finalists". vanityfair.com. October 8, 2019. Retrieved February 18, 2020.
  8. ^ "The 10 Best Books of 2019". The New York Times. Retrieved February 18, 2020.
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