This article contains information about the literary events and publications of 1975.

Events

January 1 January 1 or 1 January is the first day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. There are 364 days remaining until the end of the year (365 in leap years). This day is also known as New Year's Day since the day marks the beginning of the yea ...

– English-born comic writer

P. G. Wodehouse Sir Pelham Grenville Wodehouse, ( ; 15 October 188114 February 1975) was an English author and one of the most widely read humorists of the 20th century. His creations include the feather-brained Bertie Wooster and his sagacious valet, Jeeve ...

is awarded a

knight A knight is a person granted an honorary title of knighthood by a head of state (including the Pope) or representative for service to the monarch, the church or the country, especially in a military capacity. Knighthood finds origins in the Gr ...

hood, six weeks before he dies in the United States. *January –

Colin Dexter Norman Colin Dexter (29 September 1930 – 21 March 2017) was an English crime writer known for his ''Inspector Morse'' series of novels, which were written between 1975 and 1999 and adapted as an ITV television series, ''Inspector Morse'', fr ...

's detective novel ''

Last Bus to Woodstock ''Last Bus to Woodstock'' is a Crime fiction, crime novel by Colin Dexter, the first of 13 novels in his Inspector Morse series. Plot summary Two young women are waiting in Oxford for a bus to the nearby town of Woodstock, Oxfordshire, Woodstoc ...

'' introduces his Oxford police officer,

Inspector Morse Detective Chief Inspector Endeavour Morse, GM, is the eponymous fictional character in the series of detective novels by British author Colin Dexter. On television, he appears in the 33-episode drama series '' Inspector Morse'' (1987–2000), ...

. * April 23 **

Barbara Pym Barbara Mary Crampton Pym FRSL (2 June 1913 – 11 January 1980) was an English novelist. In the 1950s she published a series of social comedies, of which the best known are ''Excellent Women'' (1952) and '' A Glass of Blessings'' (1958). In 1977 ...

and

Philip Larkin Philip Arthur Larkin (9 August 1922 – 2 December 1985) was an English poet, novelist, and librarian. His first book of poetry, ''The North Ship'', was published in 1945, followed by two novels, ''Jill'' (1946) and ''A Girl in Winter'' (1947 ...

meet in person for the first time, at the

Randolph Hotel, Oxford The Randolph Hotel ("The Randolph") is a 5 star hotel in the heart of Oxford, England. It is on the south side of Beaumont Street, at the corner with Magdalen Street, opposite the Ashmolean Museum and close to the Oxford Playhouse. The hotel ...

, after years of correspondence. ** Harold Pinter's play '' No Man's Land'' is premièred by the National Theatre at

The Old Vic The Old Vic is a 1,000-seat, not-for-profit producing theatre in Waterloo, London, England. Established in 1818 as the Royal Coburg Theatre, and renamed in 1833 the Royal Victoria Theatre. In 1871 it was rebuilt and reopened as the Royal ...

in London, directed by Peter Hall and starring Sir

John Gielgud Sir Arthur John Gielgud, (; 14 April 1904 – 21 May 2000) was an English actor and theatre director whose career spanned eight decades. With Ralph Richardson and Laurence Olivier, he was one of the trinity of actors who dominated the Brit ...

and Sir Ralph Richardson. *

April 28 Events Pre-1600 * 224 – The Battle of Hormozdgan is fought. Ardashir I defeats and kills Artabanus V effectively ending the Parthian Empire. * 357 – Emperor Constantius II enters Rome for the first time to celebrate his victory ...

– Harold Pinter leaves his first wife, the actress

Vivien Merchant Ada Brand Thomson (22 July 1929 – 3 October 1982), known professionally as Vivien Merchant, was an English actress. She began her career in 1942, and became known for dramatic roles on stage and in films. In 1956 she married the playwright Ha ...

, having begun an affair with the married biographer Lady

Antonia Fraser Lady Antonia Margaret Caroline Fraser, (' Pakenham; born 27 August 1932) is a British author of history, novels, biographies and detective fiction. She is the widow of the 2005 Nobel Laureate in Literature, Harold Pinter (1930–2008), and p ...

on January 8. * May 10 – Leftist

Salvadoran Salvadorans (Spanish: ''Salvadoreños''), also known as Salvadorians (alternate spelling: Salvadoreans), are citizens of El Salvador, a country in Central America. Most Salvadorans live in El Salvador, although there is also a significant Salvad ...

poet, journalist and political activist

Roque Dalton Roque is an American variant of croquet played on a hard, smooth surface. Popular in the first quarter of the 20th century and billed "the Game of the Century" by its enthusiasts, it was an Olympic sport in the 1904 Summer Games, replacing cr ...

(born 1935) is assassinated by former colleagues in the

People's Revolutionary Army (El Salvador) The People's Revolutionary Army ( es, Ejército Revolucionario del Pueblo - ''ERP'') was one of five leftist guerrilla organizations that comprised the Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front (FMLN). Formed on October 10, 1980, the FMLN was ...

. *

August 12 Events Pre-1600 *1099 – First Crusade: Battle of Ascalon Crusaders under the command of Godfrey of Bouillon defeat Fatimid forces led by Al-Afdal Shahanshah. This is considered the last engagement of the First Crusade. * 1121 – B ...

– As the 20-year time limit stipulated by

Thomas Mann Paul Thomas Mann ( , ; ; 6 June 1875 – 12 August 1955) was a German novelist, short story writer, social critic, philanthropist, essayist, and the 1929 Nobel Prize in Literature laureate. His highly symbolic and ironic epic novels and novell ...

at his death expires, sealed packets of 32 of the author's notebooks are opened in

Zürich , neighboring_municipalities = Adliswil, Dübendorf, Fällanden, Kilchberg, Maur, Oberengstringen, Opfikon, Regensdorf, Rümlang, Schlieren, Stallikon, Uitikon, Urdorf, Wallisellen, Zollikon , twintowns = Kunming, San Francisco Zürich ...

, Switzerland. *''unknown dates'' **Writing as

Émile Ajar Romain Gary (; 2 December 1980), born Roman Kacew (, and also known by the pen name Émile Ajar), was a French novelist, diplomat, film director, and World War II aviator. He is the only author to have won the Prix Goncourt under two names. He i ...

, the author

Romain Gary Romain Gary (; 2 December 1980), born Roman Kacew (, and also known by the pen name Émile Ajar), was a French novelist, diplomat, film director, and World War II aviator. He is the only author to have won the Prix Goncourt under two names. He i ...

becomes the only person to win the

Prix Goncourt The Prix Goncourt (french: Le prix Goncourt, , ''The Goncourt Prize'') is a prize in French literature, given by the académie Goncourt to the author of "the best and most imaginative prose work of the year". The prize carries a symbolic reward o ...

twice. **Radical Australian poet Dorothy Hewett publishes her collection ''Rapunzel in Suburbia'', triggering a successful libel action by her ex-husband. **''

Hearing Secret Harmonies ''Hearing Secret Harmonies'' is the final novel in Anthony Powell's twelve-volume series, ''A Dance to the Music of Time''. It was published in 1975, twenty-four years after the first book, ''A Question of Upbringing ''A Question of Upbringin ...

'', the twelfth and final novel in the ''

A Dance to the Music of Time ''A Dance to the Music of Time'' is a 12-volume ''roman-fleuve'' by English writer Anthony Powell, published between 1951 and 1975 to critical acclaim. The story is an often comic examination of movements and manners, power and passivity in Eng ...

'' series begun in

1951 Events January * January 4 – Korean War: Third Battle of Seoul – Chinese and North Korean forces capture Seoul for the second time (having lost the Second Battle of Seoul in September 1950). * January 9 – The Government of the United ...

Anthony Powell Anthony Dymoke Powell ( ; 21 December 1905 – 28 March 2000) was an English novelist best known for his 12-volume work ''A Dance to the Music of Time'', published between 1951 and 1975. It is on the list of longest novels in English. Powell' ...

, is published. **The French critic

Hélène Cixous Hélène Cixous (; ; born 5 June 1937) is a French writer, playwright and literary critic. She is known for her experimental writing style and great versatility as a writer and thinker, her work dealing with multiple genres: theater, literary a ...

coins the term ''

Écriture féminine ''Écriture féminine,'' or "women's writing", is a term coined by French feminist and literary theorist Hélène Cixous in her 1975 essay " The Laugh of the Medusa". Cixous aimed to establish a genre of literary writing that deviates from tradi ...

'' in an article, "Le Rire de la méduse". **

Milan Kundera Milan Kundera (, ; born 1 April 1929) is a Czech writer who went into exile in France in 1975, becoming a naturalised French citizen in 1981. Kundera's Czechoslovak citizenship was revoked in 1979, then conferred again in 2019. He "sees himself ...

emigrates from

Czechoslovakia , rue, Чеськословеньско, , yi, טשעכאסלאוואקיי, , common_name = Czechoslovakia , life_span = 1918–19391945–1992 , p1 = Austria-Hungary , image_p1 ...

to France, to take up an academic position at the

University of Rennes The University of Rennes is a public research university which will be officially reconstituted on 1 January 2023 and located in the city of Rennes, in Upper Brittany, France. The University of Rennes has been divided for almost 50 years, before ...

. **The

Petrarca-Preis Petrarca-Preis was a European literary and translation award named after the Italian Renaissance poet Francesco Petrarca or Petrarch. Founded in 1975 by German art historian and publisher Hubert Burda, it was primarily designed for contemporary ...

is founded by

Hubert Burda Hubert Burda (born 9 February 1940) is a German billionaire publisher. He is the owner, publisher and general partner of Hubert Burda Media, a global media company of more than 600 media products, including websites, print magazines and other br ...

New books

Fiction

Chabua Amirejibi Mzechabuk "Chabua" Amirejibi, (often written as "Amiredjibi", ka, მზეჭაბუკ "ჭაბუა" ამირეჯიბი; 18 November 1921 – 12 December 2013) was a Georgian novelist and Soviet-era dissident notable for his mag ...

– '' Data Tutashkhia'' *

Edward Abbey Edward Paul Abbey (January 29, 1927 – March 14, 1989) was an American author, essayist, and environmental activist noted for his advocacy of environmental issues and criticism of public land policies. His best-known works include '' Desert S ...

– ''

The Monkey Wrench Gang ''The Monkey Wrench Gang'' is a novel written by American author Edward Abbey (1927–1989), published in 1975. Abbey's most famous work of fiction, the novel concerns the use of sabotage to protest environmentally damaging activities in the ...

'' *

Dritëro Agolli Dritëro Agolli (13 October 1931 – 3 February 2017) was an Albanian poet, writer and politician. He studied in Leningrad in the Soviet Union, and wrote primarily poetry, but also short stories, essays, plays, and novels. He was head of the Le ...

– ''Njeriu me top (The Man with the Cannon)'' *

Robert Aickman Robert Fordyce Aickman (27 June 1914 – 26 February 1981) was an English writer and conservationist. As a conservationist, he co-founded the Inland Waterways Association, a group which has preserved from destruction and restored England's inl ...

– ''Cold Hand in Mine: Eight Strange Stories'' * Martin Amis – '' Dead Babies'' *

Natalie Babbitt Natalie Zane Babbitt (née Moore; July 28, 1932 – October 31, 2016) was an American writer and illustrator of children's books. Her 1975 novel '' Tuck Everlasting'' was adapted into two feature films and a Broadway musical. She received th ...

– ''

Tuck Everlasting ''Tuck Everlasting'' is an American children's novel about immortality written by Natalie Babbitt and published by Farrar, Straus and Giroux in 1975. It has sold over 5 million copies and has been called a classic of modern children's literature ...

'' *

Donald Barthelme Donald Barthelme (April 7, 1931 – July 23, 1989) was an American short story writer and novelist known for his playful, postmodernist style of short fiction. Barthelme also worked as a newspaper reporter for the ''Houston Post'', was managing ...

– ''

The Dead Father ''The Dead Father'' is a post-modernist novel by author Donald Barthelme published in 1975 by Farrar, Straus and Giroux. The book relates the journey of a vaguely defined entity that symbolizes fatherhood, hauled by a small group of people as t ...

'' *

Saul Bellow Saul Bellow (born Solomon Bellows; 10 July 1915 – 5 April 2005) was a Canadian-born American writer. For his literary work, Bellow was awarded the Pulitzer Prize, the Nobel Prize for Literature, and the National Medal of Arts. He is the only w ...

– ''

Humboldt's Gift ''Humboldt's Gift'' is a 1975 novel by Canadian-American author Saul Bellow. It won the 1976 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction and contributed to Bellow's winning the Nobel Prize in Literature the same year. Plot The novel, which Bellow initially inte ...

'' * Thomas Berger – ''Sneaky People'' *

Thomas Bernhard Nicolaas Thomas Bernhard (; 9 February 1931 – 12 February 1989) was an Austrian novelist, playwright and poet who explored death, social injustice, and human misery in controversial literature that was deeply pessimistic about modern civilizat ...

– '' Correction (Korrektur)'' *

Jorge Luis Borges Jorge Francisco Isidoro Luis Borges Acevedo (; ; 24 August 1899 – 14 June 1986) was an Argentine short-story writer, essayist, poet and translator, as well as a key figure in Spanish-language and international literature. His best-known b ...

– '' The Book of Sand'' ('' El libro de arena'', short stories) *

Malcolm Bradbury Sir Malcolm Stanley Bradbury, (7 September 1932 – 27 November 2000) was an English author and academic. Life Bradbury was born in Sheffield, the son of a railwayman. His family moved to London in 1935, but returned to Sheffield in 1941 with ...

– '' The History Man'' *

John Braine John Gerard Braine (13 April 1922 – 28 October 1986) was an English novelist. Braine is usually listed among the angry young men, a loosely defined group of English writers who emerged on the literary scene in the 1950s. Biography John Brain ...

– '' The Pious Agent'' *

– '' The History Man'' *

Charles Bukowski Henry Charles Bukowski ( ; born Heinrich Karl Bukowski, ; August 16, 1920 – March 9, 1994) was a German-American poet, novelist, and short story writer. His writing was influenced by the social, cultural, and economic ambience of his adopted ...

– ''

Factotum Factotum may refer to: *A handyman, employed as a servant * ''Factotum'' (novel), a 1975 novel by Charles Bukowski * ''Factotum'' (film), a 2005 film adaptation of the novel * Factotum (arts organisation), an arts organisation based in Belfast * fa ...

'' *

Morley Callaghan Edward Morley Callaghan (February 22, 1903 – August 25, 1990) was a Canadian novelist, short story writer, playwright, and TV and radio personality. Biography Of Canadian/English-immigrant parentage,Clara Thomas, ''Canadian Novelists 192 ...

– ''

A Fine and Private Place ''A Fine and Private Place'' is a fantasy novel by American writer Peter S. Beagle, the first of his major fantasies. It was first published in hardcover by Viking Press on May 23, 1960, followed by a trade paperback from Delta the same year. ...

'' * J. L. Carr – ''

How Steeple Sinderby Wanderers Won the F.A. Cup ''How Steeple Sinderby Wanderers Won the F.A. Cup'' is the fourth novel by J. L. Carr, published in 1975. The novel is a comic fantasy that describes in the form of an official history how a village football club progressed through the FA Cup to ...

'' * Agatha Christie – '' Curtain: Poirot's last case'' (written in 1940s) * James Clavell – ''

Shōgun , officially , was the title of the military dictators of Japan during most of the period spanning from 1185 to 1868. Nominally appointed by the Emperor, shoguns were usually the de facto rulers of the country, though during part of the Kamak ...

'' * Michael Crichton – '' The Great Train Robbery'' *

A. J. Cronin Archibald Joseph Cronin (19 July 1896 – 6 January 1981), known as A. J. Cronin, was a Scottish physician and novelist. His best-known novel is ''The Citadel'' (1937), about a Scottish doctor who serves in a Welsh mining village before achievi ...

– ''

The Minstrel Boy "The Minstrel Boy" is an Irish song written by Thomas Moore (1779–1852) and published as part of his ''Irish Melodies''. Moore himself came to be nicknamed "The Minstrel Boy", and indeed it is the title of Leonard Strong's 1937 biography of ...

'' *

Robertson Davies William Robertson Davies (28 August 1913 – 2 December 1995) was a Canadian novelist, playwright, critic, journalist, and professor. He was one of Canada's best known and most popular authors and one of its most distinguished " men of letters" ...

– '' World of Wonders'' *

L. Sprague de Camp Lyon Sprague de Camp (; November 27, 1907 – November 6, 2000) was an American writer of science fiction, fantasy and non-fiction. In a career spanning 60 years, he wrote over 100 books, including novels and works of non-fiction, including biog ...

and

Fletcher Pratt Murray Fletcher Pratt (25 April 1897 – 10 June 1956) was an American writer of history, science fiction, and fantasy. He is best known for his works on naval history and the American Civil War and for fiction written with L. Sprague de Camp. ...

– '' The Compleat Enchanter'' *

Samuel R. Delany Samuel R. "Chip" Delany (, ) (born April 1, 1942), is an American author and literary critic. His work includes fiction (especially science fiction), memoir, criticism, and essays (on science fiction, literature, sexuality, and society). His ...

– ''

Dhalgren ''Dhalgren'' is a 1975 science fiction novel by American writer Samuel R. Delany. It features an extended trip to and through Bellona, a fictional city in the American Midwest cut off from the rest of the world by an unknown catastrophe. Plot ...

'' *

Michel Déon Michel Déon (; 4 August 1919 – 28 December 2016) was a French novelist and literary columnist. He published over 50 works and was the recipient of numerous awards, including the Prix Interallié for his 1970 novel, '' Les Poneys sauvages'' (Th ...

– ''

The Foundling Boy ''The Foundling Boy'' is a 1975 novel by the French writer Michel Déon. The original French title is ''Le jeune homme vert'', which means "the green young man". It tells the story of a boy who is found at the doorstep of a childless couple in 191 ...

(Le Jeune Homme vert)'' *

August Derleth August William Derleth (February 24, 1909 – July 4, 1971) was an American writer and anthologist. Though best remembered as the first book publisher of the writings of H. P. Lovecraft, and for his own contributions to the Cthulhu Mythos and th ...

– '' Harrigan's File'' * Guram Dochanashvili – '' The First Garment'' *

E. L. Doctorow Edgar Lawrence Doctorow (January 6, 1931 – July 21, 2015) was an American novelist, editor, and professor, best known for his works of historical fiction. He wrote twelve novels, three volumes of short fiction and a stage drama. They included ...

– ''

Ragtime Ragtime, also spelled rag-time or rag time, is a musical style that flourished from the 1890s to 1910s. Its cardinal trait is its syncopated or "ragged" rhythm. Ragtime was popularized during the early 20th century by composers such as Scott J ...

'' *

Max Frisch Max Rudolf Frisch (; 15 May 1911 – 4 April 1991) was a Swiss playwright and novelist. Frisch's works focused on problems of identity, individuality, responsibility, morality, and political commitment. The use of irony is a significant featur ...

– '' Montauk'' *

Carlos Fuentes Carlos Fuentes Macías (; ; November 11, 1928 – May 15, 2012) was a Mexican novelist and essayist. Among his works are ''The Death of Artemio Cruz'' (1962), ''Aura'' (1962), '' Terra Nostra'' (1975), ''The Old Gringo'' (1985) and ''Christopher ...

– '' Terra Nostra'' *

William Gaddis William Thomas Gaddis, Jr. (December 29, 1922 – December 16, 1998) was an American novelist. The first and longest of his five novels, '' The Recognitions'', was named one of TIME magazine's 100 best novels from 1923 to 2005 and two oth ...

– ''

J R ''J R'' is a novel by William Gaddis published by Alfred A. Knopf in 1975. In the story, a schoolboy secretly amasses a fortune in penny stocks. ''J R'' won the National Book Award for Fiction in 1976.Gabriel García Márquez Gabriel José de la Concordia García Márquez (; 6 March 1927 – 17 April 2014) was a Colombian novelist, short-story writer, screenwriter, and journalist, known affectionately as Gabo () or Gabito () throughout Latin America. Considered one ...

– ''

The Autumn of the Patriarch ''The Autumn of the Patriarch'' (original Spanish title: ''El otoño del patriarca'') is a novel written by Gabriel García Márquez in 1975. A "poem on the solitude of power" according to the author, the novel is a flowing tract on the life of a ...

( El Otoño del Patriarca)'' *

as Émile Ajar – '' The Life Before Us (

La vie devant soi ''The Life Before Us'' (1975; French: ''La vie devant soi'') is a novel by French author Romain Gary who wrote it under the pseudonym of "Emile Ajar". It was originally published in English as ''Momo'' translated by Ralph Manheim, then re-publis ...

)'' *

Rumer Godden Margaret Rumer Godden (10 December 1907 – 8 November 1998) was an English author of more than 60 fiction and non-fiction books. Nine of her works have been made into films, most notably ''Black Narcissus'' in 1947 and '' The River'' in ...

– ''The Peacock Spring'' * Arthur Hailey – ''

The Moneychangers ''The Moneychangers'' is a 1975 novel written by Arthur Hailey. The plot revolves around the politics inside a major bank. Plot summary As the novel begins, the position of CEO of one of America's largest banks, ''First Mercantile American'', ...

'' *

Peter Handke Peter Handke (; born 6 December 1942) is an Austrian novelist, playwright, translator, poet, film director, and screenwriter. He was awarded the 2019 Nobel Prize in Literature "for an influential work that with linguistic ingenuity has explored t ...

– '' A Moment of True Feeling (Die Stunde der wahren Empfindung)'' *

Thomas Harris William Thomas Harris III (born 1940/1941) is an American writer, best known for a series of suspense novels about his most famous character, Hannibal Lecter. The majority of his works have been adapted into films and television, the most notab ...

– '' Black Sunday'' *

Xavier Herbert Xavier Herbert (born Alfred Jackson; 15 May 190110 November 1984) was an Australian writer best known for his Miles Franklin Award-winning novel '' Poor Fellow My Country'' (1975). He was considered one of the elder statesmen of Australian li ...

– '' Poor Fellow My Country'' *

Georgette Heyer Georgette Heyer (; 16 August 1902 – 4 July 1974) was an English novelist and short-story writer, in both the Regency romance and detective fiction genres. Her writing career began in 1921, when she turned a story for her younger brother ...

– '' My Lord John'' *

Jack Higgins Henry "Harry" Patterson (27 July 1929 – 9 April 2022), commonly known by his pen name Jack Higgins, was a British author. He was a best-selling author of popular thrillers and espionage novels. His novel '' The Eagle Has Landed'' (1975) so ...

– '' The Eagle Has Landed'' *

Ruth Prawer Jhabvala Ruth Prawer Jhabvala (; 7 May 19273 April 2013) was a British author and screenwriter. She is best known for her collaboration with Merchant Ivory Productions, made up of director James Ivory and producer Ismail Merchant. In 1951, Jhabvala ma ...

– ''

Heat and Dust ''Heat and Dust'' (1975) is a novel by Ruth Prawer Jhabvala that won the Booker Prize in 1975. The book was also ranked by ''The Telegraph'' in 2014 as one of the 10 all-time greatest Asian novels. Plot summary The initial stages of the nove ...

'' *

Gayl Jones Gayl Jones (born November 23, 1949) is an American writer from Lexington, Kentucky. She is recognized as a key figure in 20th-century African-American literature. Imani Perry posits Jones as "one of the most versatile and transformative writer ...

– '' Corregidora'' * Stephen King – ''

Salem's Lot ''Salem's Lot'' is a 1975 horror novel by American author Stephen King. It was his second published novel. The story involves a writer named Ben Mears who returns to the town of Jerusalem's Lot (or 'Salem's Lot for short) in Maine, where he ...

'' * Sheridan Le Fanu (died

1873 Events January–March * January 1 ** Japan adopts the Gregorian calendar. ** The California Penal Code goes into effect. * January 17 – American Indian Wars: Modoc War: First Battle of the Stronghold – Modoc Indians defe ...

) – ''

The Purcell Papers ''The Purcell Papers'' (1880) are a collection of thirteen Gothic, supernatural, historical and humorous short stories by Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu (1814–73) originally written for the ''Dublin University Magazine''. The first twelve were writ ...

'' * Derek Lambert – '' Touch the Lion's Paw'' * David Lodge – ''

Changing Places ''Changing Places'' (1975) is the first "campus novel" by British novelist David Lodge. The subtitle is "A Tale of Two Campuses", and thus both the title and subtitle are literary allusions to Charles Dickens' ''A Tale of Two Cities''. It is t ...

'' *

Robert Ludlum Robert Ludlum (May 25, 1927 – March 12, 2001) was an American author of 27 thriller novels, best known as the creator of Jason Bourne from the original '' The Bourne Trilogy'' series. The number of copies of his books in print is estimated b ...

– '' The Road to Gandolfo'' * John D. MacDonald – '' The Dreadful Lemon Sky'' *

Bharati Mukherjee Bharati Mukherjee (July 27, 1940 – January 28, 2017) was an Indian American-Canadian writer and professor emerita in the department of English at the University of California, Berkeley. She was the author of a number of novels and short story ...

– ''

Wife A wife (plural, : wives) is a female in a marital relationship. A woman who has separated from her partner continues to be a wife until the marriage is legally Dissolution (law), dissolved with a divorce judgement. On the death of her partner, ...

'' *

Abdul Rahman Munif Abdelrahman bin Ibrahim al-Munif ( ar, عَبْدُ الرَّحْمٰن المُنِيفٌ) known by his nickname Abdelrahman Munif (May 29, 1933 – January 24, 2004) was a Saudi Arabian novelist, short story writer, memoirist, journalist ...

– '' East of the Mediterranean'' * Gary Myers – ''

The House of the Worm ''The House of the Worm'' is a collection of stories by American writer Gary Myers. It was published in 1975 by Arkham House in an edition of 4,144 copies and was the author's first book. The book is a close stylistic pastiche of H. P. Lovecra ...

'' *

V. S. Naipaul Sir Vidiadhar Surajprasad Naipaul (; 17 August 1932 – 11 August 2018) was a Trinidadian-born British writer of works of fiction and nonfiction in English. He is known for his comic early novels set in Trinidad, his bleaker novels of alienati ...

– ''

Guerrillas Guerrilla warfare is a form of irregular warfare in which small groups of combatants, such as paramilitary personnel, armed civilians, or irregulars, use military tactics including ambushes, sabotage, raids, petty warfare, hit-and-run tacti ...

'' *

N. Richard Nash Nathan Richard Nusbaum (June 8, 1913 – December 11, 2000), known as N. Richard Nash, was an American writer and dramatist best known for writing Broadway shows, including '' The Rainmaker''. Early life Nash was born Nathan Richard Nusbau ...

- ''

Cry Macho ''Cry Macho'' is a 1975 American novel by N. Richard Nash published in the United States by the Delacorte Press. The story was originally written as a screenplay under the title ''Macho'', but was later adapted into a novel after Nash failed t ...

'' * Tim O'Brien – ''Northern Lights'' *

Gerald W. Page Gerald Wilburn Page (born August 12, 1939) is an American writer of fantasy, science fiction, mystery and horror. He was born in Chattanooga, Tennessee on August 12, 1939. He sold his first story to the magazine ''Analog'' where it appeared in ...

, editor – ''

Nameless Places ''Nameless Places'' is an anthology of science fiction, fantasy and horror stories edited by Gerald W. Page. It was released in 1975 by Arkham House in an edition of 4,160 copies. The stories in this volume had not been previously published. Co ...

'' * Robert B. Parker – '' Mortal Stakes'' *

Georges Perec Georges Perec (; 7 March 1936 – 3 March 1982) was a French novelist, filmmaker, documentalist, and essayist. He was a member of the Oulipo group. His father died as a soldier early in the Second World War and his mother was killed in the Hol ...

– ''

W, or the Memory of Childhood ''W, or the Memory of Childhood'' (french: W ou le souvenir d'enfance) is a semi-autobiographical work of fiction by Georges Perec, published in 1975. Perec's novel consists of alternating chapters of autobiography and of a fictional story, divid ...

(W, ou le Souvenir d'enfance)'' *

Elizabeth Peters Barbara Louise Mertz (September 29, 1927 – August 8, 2013) was an American author who wrote under her own name as well as under the pseudonyms Elizabeth Peters and Barbara Michaels. In 1952, she received a PhD in Egyptology from the Univers ...

– ''

Crocodile on the Sandbank ''Crocodile on the Sandbank'' is a historical mystery novel by Elizabeth Peters, first published in 1975. It is the first in the Amelia Peabody series of novels and takes place in 1884-1885. Plot summary Amelia Peabody meets the destitute Evelyn ...

'' (first in the Amelia Peabody series) *

Baltasar Porcel Baltasar Porcel i Pujol (; Andratx, Majorca, 14 March 1937 – Barcelona, 1 July 2009) was a Spanish writer, journalist and literary critic. His enormous legacy credited him as one of the greatest authors in Catalan literature from the 20th cent ...

– ''Horses into the Night (Cavalls cap a la fosca)'' *

– ''

'' *

James Purdy James Otis Purdy (July 17, 1914 March 13, 2009) was an American novelist, short-story writer, poet, and playwright who, from his debut in 1956, published over a dozen novels, and many collections of poetry, short stories, and plays. His work ha ...

– ''In a Shallow Grave'' * Judith Rossner – '' Looking for Mr. Goodbar'' *

Joanna Russ Joanna Russ (February 22, 1937 – April 29, 2011) was an American writer, academic and feminist. She is the author of a number of works of science fiction, fantasy and feminist literary criticism such as ''How to Suppress Women's Writing'', as w ...

– ''

The Female Man ''The Female Man'' is a feminist science fiction novel by American writer Joanna Russ. It was originally written in 1970 and first published in 1975 by Bantam Books. Russ was an ardent feminist and challenged sexist views during the 1970s with ...

'' *

Nawal El Saadawi Nawal El Saadawi ( ar, نوال السعداوي, , 22 October 1931 – 21 March 2021) was an Egyptian feminist writer, activist and physician. She wrote many books on the subject of women in Islam, paying particular attention to the practice of ...

– ''

Woman at Point Zero ''Woman at Point Zero'' ( ar, امرأة عند نقطة الصفر, ) is a novel by Nawal El Saadawi written in 1975 and published in Arabic in 1977. The novel is based on Saadawi's meeting with a female prisoner in Qanatir Prison and is the fi ...

(Emra'a Enda Noktat el Sifr)'' * Paul Scott – ''

A Division of the Spoils ''A Division of the Spoils'' is the 1975 novel by Paul Scott. It is the fourth and final book of his ''Raj Quartet''. The novel is set in the British Raj. It follows on from the storyline in '' The Jewel in the Crown'', '' The Day of the Scorpi ...

'' *

Anya Seton Anya Seton (January 23, 1904 – November 8, 1990), born Ann Seton, was an American author of historical fiction, or as she preferred they be called, "biographical novels". Career Seton published her first novel, ''My Theodosia'', in 1941. Seton ...

– '' Smouldering Fires'' *

Gerald Seymour Gerald Seymour (born 25 November 1941 in Guildford, Surrey) is a British writer of crime and espionage novels. Early life Gerald Seymour was born to William Kean Seymour and his second wife, Rosalind Wade.Harry's Game ''Harry's Game'' is a British television drama mini-series made by Yorkshire Television for ITV in 1982, closely based on the 1975 novel ''Harry's Game'' by Gerald Seymour, a former journalist. Apart from brief scenes, it is set in and around ...

'' *

Tom Sharpe Thomas Ridley Sharpe (30 March 1928 – 6 June 2013) was an English satirical novelist, best known for his '' Wilt'' series, as well as ''Porterhouse Blue'' and ''Blott on the Landscape,'' all three of which were adapted for television. Life ...

– ''

Blott on the Landscape ''Blott on the Landscape'' is a novel by Tom Sharpe which was first published in 1975. The book was adapted into a 6-part Blott on the Landscape (TV series), television series of the same name for BBC television in 1985. Plot The story revolves ...

'' *

Robert Shea Robert Joseph Shea (February 14, 1933 – March 10, 1994) was an American novelist and former journalist best known as co-author with Robert Anton Wilson of the science fantasy trilogy '' Illuminatus!'' It became a cult success and was later turne ...

and

Robert Anton Wilson Robert Anton Wilson (born Robert Edward Wilson; January 18, 1932 – January 11, 2007) was an American author, futurist, psychologist, and self-described agnostic mystic. Recognized within Discordianism as an Episkopos, pope and saint, Wilson ...

– ''

The Illuminatus! Trilogy ''The Illuminatus! Trilogy'' is a series of three novels by American writers Robert Shea and Robert Anton Wilson, first published in 1975.''Illuminatus!'' was written between 1969 and 1971, but not published until 1975 according to Robert Anto ...

'' (individual editions) *

M. P. Shiel Matthew Phipps Shiell (21 July 1865 – 17 February 1947), known as M. P. Shiel, was a British writer. His legal surname remained "Shiell" though he adopted the shorter version as a ''de facto'' pen name. He is remembered mainly for supernatura ...

– ''

Xélucha and Others ''Xélucha and Others'' is a collection of stories by British writer M. P. Shiel. It was released in 1975 by Arkham House in an edition of 4,283 copies. It was the author's first book published by Arkham House and was first announced in Arkham's ...

'' *

Rex Stout Rex Todhunter Stout (; December 1, 1886 – October 27, 1975) was an American writer noted for his detective fiction. His best-known characters are the detective Nero Wolfe and his assistant Archie Goodwin, who were featured in 33 novels and ...

– '' A Family Affair'' *

Glendon Swarthout Glendon Fred Swarthout (April 8, 1918 – September 23, 1992) was an American writer and novelist. Several of his novels were made into films. ''Where the Boys Are'', and ''The Shootist'', which was John Wayne's last work, are probably the bes ...

– ''

The Shootist ''The Shootist'' is a 1976 American Western film directed by Don Siegel and based on Glendon Swarthout's 1975 novel of the same name.Swarthout, Glendon (1975). ''The Shootist'', New York, New York: Doubleday. It is John Wayne's final film ro ...

'' *

Julian Symons Julian Gustave Symons (originally Gustave Julian Symons) (pronounced ''SIMM-ons''; 30 May 1912 – 19 November 1994) was a British crime writer and poet. He also wrote social and military history, biography and studies of literature. He was bor ...

– ''

A Three-Pipe Problem ''A Three-Pipe Problem'' is a 1975 mystery detective novel by the British writer Julian Symons.Bargainnier p.220 A pastiche of the original Sherlock Holmes stories by Arthur Conan Doyle, it takes place in the present day. The title refers to a ...

'' * Joseph Wambaugh – '' The Choirboys'' *

Keith Waterhouse Keith Spencer Waterhouse (6 February 1929 – 4 September 2009) was a British novelist and newspaper columnist and the writer of many television series. Biography Keith Waterhouse was born in Hunslet, Leeds, West Riding of Yorkshire, England. H ...

– '' Billy Liar on the Moon'' *

Jack Vance John Holbrook Vance (August 28, 1916 – May 26, 2013) was an American mystery, fantasy, and science fiction writer. Though most of his work has been published under the name Jack Vance, he also wrote several mystery novels under pen names. ...

– ''

Showboat World ''Showboat World'' (original title: ''The Magnificent Showboats of the Lower Vissel River, Lune XXIII, Big Planet'') is a science fiction novel by American writer Jack Vance, first published in 1975. It is the second, stand-alone novel in a pair ...

'' *

Georgi Vladimov Georgi Nikolayevich Vladimov (russian: Гео́ргий Никола́евич Влади́мов; real family name Volosevich, russian: Волосевич; 19 February 1931, Kharkiv – 19 October 2003, Frankfurt) was a Russian dissident writer. ...

– '' Faithful Ruslan: The Story of a Guard Dog'' («Верный Руслан. История караульной собаки», first trade publication) *

Roger Zelazny Roger Joseph Zelazny (May 13, 1937 – June 14, 1995) was an American poet and writer of fantasy and science fiction short stories and novels, best known for ''The Chronicles of Amber''. He won the Nebula Award three times (out of 14 nomin ...

– '' Sign of the Unicorn''

Children and young people

Verna Aardema Verna Norberg Aardema Vugteveen (June 6, 1911 – May 11, 2000), best known by the name Verna Aardema, was an American writer of children's books. Verna Norberg was born in New Era, Michigan. She graduated from Michigan State University with ...

(with

Leo and Diane Dillon Leo Dillon (March 2, 1933 – May 26, 2012) and Diane Dillon (''née'' Sorber; born March 13, 1933) were American illustrators of children's books and adult paperback book and magazine covers. One obituary of Leo called the work of the hu ...

) – '' Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's Ears'' *

Nina Bawden Nina Bawden CBE, FRSL, JP (19 January 1925 – 22 August 2012) was an English novelist and children's writer. She was shortlisted for the Booker Prize in 1987 and the Lost Man Booker Prize in 2010. She is one of very few who have both se ...

– ''The Peppermint Pig'' *

Susan Cooper Susan Mary Cooper (born 23 May 1935) is an English author of children's books. She is best known for '' The Dark Is Rising'', a contemporary fantasy series set in England and Wales, which incorporates British mythology such as the Arthurian le ...

– ''

The Grey King ''The Grey King'' is a contemporary fantasy novel by Susan Cooper, published almost simultaneously by Chatto & Windus and Atheneum in 1975. It is the fourth of five books in her Arthurian fantasy series '' The Dark is Rising''. ''The Grey King ...

'' * Roald Dahl – ''

Danny, the Champion of the World ''Danny, the Champion of the World'', or simply Danny, is a 1975 children's book by Roald Dahl. The plot centres on Danny, a young English boy, and his father, William. They live in a Gypsy caravan, fix cars for a living in their mechanic sho ...

'' *

– ''Mr. McFadden's Hallowe'en'' *

Peter Härtling Peter Härtling (; 13 November 1933 – 10 July 2017) was a German writer, poet, publisher and journalist. He received the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany for his major contribution to German literature. Biography Härtling wa ...

– ''Oma'' (Grandma) *

Eva Ibbotson Eva Maria Charlotte Michelle Ibbotson (née Wiesner; born 21 January 1925 – 20 October 2010) was a British novelist born in Austria to a Jewish family who fled the Nazis. She is known for her children's literature. Some of her novels for adult ...

– '' The Great Ghost Rescue'' *

Ronald McCuaig Ronald McCuaig (2 April 19081 March 1993) was an Australian poet, journalist, literary critic, humorist and children's author. He was described by Geoffrey Dutton as "Australia's first modern poet" and Kenneth Slessor included him in "the front ...

– ''Fresi Fantastika'' (Norwegian translation of ''Gangles'') *

Ruth Park Rosina Ruth Lucia Park AM (24 August 191714 December 2010) was a New Zealand–born Australian author. Her best known works are the novels '' The Harp in the South'' (1948) and ''Playing Beatie Bow'' (1980), and the children's radio serial '' ...

– ''The Muddle-Headed Wombat and the Invention'' * Bill Peet **''Cyrus the Unsinkable Sea Serpent'' **''The Gnats of Knotty Pine'' *

Robert Westall Robert Atkinson Westall (7 October 1929 – 15 April 1993) was an English author and teacher known for fiction aimed at children and young people. Some of the latter cover complex, dark, and adult themes. He has been called "the dean of Brit ...

– ''

The Machine Gunners ''The Machine Gunners'' is a children's historical novel by Robert Westall, published by Macmillan in 1975. Set in northeastern England shortly after the Battle of Britain (February 1941), it features children who find a crashed German aircraft w ...

Drama

* Alan Ayckbourn – '' Bedroom Farce'' *

Patrick Galvin Patrick Galvin (15 August 1927 – 10 May 2011) was an Irish poet, singer, playwright, and prose and screenwriter born in Cork's inner city. Biography Galvin was born in Cork in 1927 at a time of great political transition in Ireland. His moth ...

– ''We Do It For Love'' *

Trevor Griffiths Trevor ( Trefor in the Welsh language) is a common given name or surname of Welsh origin. It is an habitational name, deriving from the Welsh ''tre(f)'', meaning "homestead", or "settlement" and ''fawr'', meaning "large, big". The Cornish langu ...

– ''

Comedians A comedian or comic is a person who seeks to entertain an audience by making them laugh. This might be through jokes or amusing situations, or acting foolish (as in slapstick), or employing prop comedy. A comedian who addresses an audience dire ...

'' * Christopher Hampton – ''

Treats ''Treats'' is a 1975 romantic drama play by Christopher Hampton about a love triangle. Plot The play is set in 1974, London, in a single room in Ann's flat. There are three characters: Ann, her former boyfriend Dave, and her lover Patrick. Ann ...

'' * David Hare **''Fanshen'' **'' Teeth 'n' Smiles'' *

Colin Higgins Colin Higgins (28 July 1941 – 5 August 1988) was an Australian-American screenwriter, actor, director, and producer. He was best known for writing the screenplay for the 1971 film ''Harold and Maude'', and for directing the films '' Foul Play' ...

and

Denis Cannan Denis Cannan (14 May 1919 – 25 September 2011Denis Cannan(obituary)
...

with

Peter Brook Peter Stephen Paul Brook (21 March 1925 – 2 July 2022) was an English theatre and film director. He worked first in England, from 1945 at the Birmingham Repertory Theatre, from 1947 at the Royal Opera House, and from 1962 for the Royal Sha ...

– ''

The Ik ''The Ik'' is a 1975 play by Colin Higgins and Denis Cannan adapted from the 1972 book by Colin Turnbull about the Ik people titled ''The Mountain People''. It was devised with director Peter Brook Peter Stephen Paul Brook (21 March 1925 ...

'' *

Franz Xaver Kroetz Franz Xaver Kroetz (; born 25 February 1946) is a German author, playwright, actor and film director. He achieved great success beginning in the early 1970s. ''Persistent'', '' Farmyard'', and ''Request Concert'', all written in 1971, are some o ...

**''Geisterbahn'' (Ghost Train) **''Das Nest'' (The Nest) * Tom Murphy – '' The Sanctuary Lamp'' * Stewart Parker – ''Spokesong'' * Harold Pinter – '' No Man's Land'' *

Wole Soyinka Akinwande Oluwole Babatunde Soyinka (Yoruba: ''Akínwándé Olúwọlé Babátúndé Ṣóyíinká''; born 13 July 1934), known as Wole Soyinka (), is a Nigerian playwright, novelist, poet, and essayist in the English language. He was awarded t ...

– ''Death and the King's Horseman'' *Ben Travers – ''The Bed Before Yesterday'' *Charles Wood (playwright), Charles Wood – ''Jingo''

Poetry

*Lin Carter – ''Dreams from R'lyeh'' *Leslie Norris – ''Mountains, Polecats, Pheasants and other Elegies''

Non-fiction

*Philip Agee – ''Inside the Company: CIA Diary'' *Kingsley Amis – ''Rudyard Kipling and His World'' *Robert Bresson – ''Notes on the Cinematographer (Notes sur le cinématographe)'' *Jacob Bronowski – ''The Ascent of Man'' *Mary Chamberlain – ''Fenwomen: a portrait of women in an English village'' *

**''Blond Barbarians and Noble Savages'' **''Lovecraft: A Biography'' **''The Miscast Barbarian: a Biography of Robert E. Howard'' *Michel Foucault – ''Discipline and Punish, Discipline and Punish: The Birth of the Prison (Surveiller et punir: Naissance de la prison)'' *Paul Fussell – ''The Great War and Modern Memory'' *Paul Horgan – ''Lamy of Santa Fe'' *Frank Belknap Long – ''Howard Phillips Lovecraft: Dreamer on the Nightside'' *Philip Roth – ''Reading Myself and Others'' *Peter Singer – ''Animal Liberation (book), Animal Liberation'' *Paul Theroux – ''The Great Railway Bazaar''

Births

*January 13 – Daniel Kehlmann, German novelist *February 25 – Carrie Mac, Canadian young-adult fiction writer *February 27 – Cynan Jones, Welsh novelist *April 11 – Walid Soliman (writer), Walid Soliman, Tunisian author and translator *June 23 **Hugh Howey, American science-fiction writer **Markus Zusak, Australian young-adult novelist *July 19 – Martina Montelius, Swedish playwright *August 20 – Matthew Dickman, Matthew and Michael Dickman, American poets *October 13 - Robin Parrish, American speculative fiction writer *October 27 – Zadie Smith (Sadie Smith), English novelist *December 19 – Brandon Sanderson, American fiction writer *''unknown dates'' **Gavin Francis, Scottish medical writer and physician **Shehan Karunatilaka, Sri Lankan English-language novelist

Deaths

*January 15 – Sydney Goodsir Smith, Scottish poet, dramatist and novelist (heart attack, born 1915 in literature, 1915) *February 14 **Sir Julian Huxley, English biologist and author (born 1887 in literature, 1887) **Sir

, English-born comic novelist (born 1881 in literature, 1881) *February 20 – Ivan Sokolov-Mikitov, Russian author (born 1882 in literature, 1882) *March 3 – T. H. Parry-Williams, Welsh poet (born 1887 in literature, 1887) *March 7 – Kate Seredy, Hungarian-born American children's writer and illustrator (born 1899 in literature, 1899) *March 13 – Ivo Andrić, Serbo-Croatian novelist and Nobel laureate (born 1892 in literature, 1892) * April 23 – Rolf Dieter Brinkmann, German poet (killed in hit-and-run-accident in London, born 1940 in poetry, 1940) *May 21 – A. H. Dodd, Welsh historian (born 1891 in literature, 1891) *June 8 – Murray Leinster (William Fitzgerald Jenkins), American science fiction writer (born 1896 in literature, 1896) *July 10 – Peter Anson, Peter Frederick Anson, English writer on religion and maritime matters (born 1889 in literature, 1889) *September 20 – Saint-John Perse (Alexis Leger), French poet and Nobel laureate (born 1887 in literature, 1887) *October 5 – Lady Constance Malleson, Irish actress and writer (born 1895 in literature, 1895) *October 22 – Arnold J. Toynbee, English historian (born 1889 in literature, 1889) *November 13 – R. C. Sherriff, English dramatist and novelist (born 1896 in literature, 1896) *November 19 – Elizabeth Taylor (novelist), Elizabeth Taylor, English novelist (cancer, born 1912 in literature, 1912) *November 27 – Ross McWhirter, English sports journalist and joint compiler of ''Guinness Book of Records'' (assassinated, born 1925 in literature, 1925) *December 4 – Hannah Arendt, German-American philosopher (born 1906 in literature, 1906) *December 7 – Thornton Wilder, American novelist and dramatist (born 1897 in literature, 1897)

Awards

*Nobel Prize for Literature: Eugenio Montale

Canada

*See 1975 Governor General's Awards for a complete list of winners and finalists for those awards.

France

: Romain Gary, Romain Gary as Emile Ajar – ''

'' *Prix Médicis French: Jacques Almira, ''Le Voyage à Naucratis'' *Prix Médicis International: Steven Millhauser, ''La Vie trop brève d'Edwin Mulhouse'' – United States

Spain

*Premio Nadal: Francisco Umbral, ''Las ninfas''

United Kingdom

*Booker Prize:

, ''

'' *Carnegie Medal (literary award), Carnegie Medal for children's literature:

, ''

'' *Cholmondeley Award: Jenny Joseph, Norman MacCaig, John Ormond *Duff Cooper Prize: Seamus Heaney, North (poetry collection), ''North'' *Eric Gregory Award: John Birtwhistle, Duncan Bush, Val Warner, Philip Holmes (poet), Philip Holmes, Peter Cash (poet), Peter Cash, Alasdair Paterson *James Tait Black Memorial Prize for fiction: Brian Moore (novelist), Brian Moore, ''The Great Victorian Collection'' *James Tait Black Memorial Prize for biography: Karl Miller, ''Cockburn's Millennium''

United States

*American Academy of Arts and Letters Gold Medals#Belles lettres, criticism, essays, American Academy of Arts and Letters Gold Medal for Belles Lettres: Kenneth Burke *Nebula Award: Joe Haldeman, ''The Forever War'' *Newbery Medal for children's literature: Virginia Hamilton, ''M. C. Higgins, the Great'' *Newdigate Prize: Andrew Motion *Pulitzer Prize for Drama: Edward Albee, ''Seascape (play), Seascape'' *Pulitzer Prize for Fiction: Michael Shaara – ''The Killer Angels'' *Pulitzer Prize for Poetry: Gary Snyder – ''Turtle Island (poetry book), Turtle Island''

Elsewhere

*Miles Franklin Award:

, '' Poor Fellow My Country'' *Viareggio Prize: Paolo Volponi, ''Il sipario ducale''

References

{{Year in literature article categories 1975 books, Years of the 20th century in literature