Barbara Kingsolver, the 71-year-old author known for her Pulitzer Prize-winning novel Demon Copperhead, has released a new book titled Partita. In a recent interview, she opened up about her early life, a four-year stint under FBI surveillance, and the habits that keep her grounded.
Early Life and Literary Success
Kingsolver was born in Maryland and earned a music scholarship to DePauw University in Indiana. She began her career as a journalist before publishing her first novel, The Bean Trees, in 1988. Her bibliography includes The Poisonwood Bible and The Lacuna, but it was Demon Copperhead, published in 2022, that brought her widespread acclaim. The book won the Pulitzer Prize, the James Tait Black prize, and the Women’s Prize for Fiction.
Her earliest memory involves teaching herself to read at age three. She described a fierce desire to understand what her father was reading in the newspaper. After staring at the page with intense focus, she sounded out letters until the first whole word, “orange,” broke into her brain.
Kingsolver describes herself as adventurous, hopeful, and grateful. When asked who would play her in a film adaptation of her life, she noted that people often tell her she resembles Meryl Streep, though she expects the actress is too busy to take the role.
FBI Surveillance and Personal Reflections
One of the most striking revelations from the interview concerns Kingsolver’s legal history. In the 1980s, she was placed under phone tapping and surveillance by the FBI for more than four years. This action was taken due to her work with human rights organizations, which she confirmed was fully legal.
On a more personal level, Kingsolver shared that her happiest moments came right after the births of her two children. She described the hormonal surge as strong medicine that erased memories of recent difficult events. When asked about her greatest fear, she cited being on a transatlantic flight without a good book.
She also addressed her views on responsibility, stating that she deplores when people refuse to take ownership of their actions. She said she can forgive anything if the offender admits their mistake, though she finds it difficult to understand why some people, particularly men, fight against this admission.
New Work and Daily Habits
Kingsolver’s latest novel, Partita, is set in Lee County, Virginia. This location is significant to her personally, as she founded the Higher Ground Women’s Recovery Residence in Lee County in 2025. She lives in Virginia with her second husband and their two children.
When discussing her daily habits, Kingsolver admitted to grumbling impatience when people waste her time. To manage this, she knits. She explained that when stuck in long-winded meetings, she holds her tongue and knits furiously, telling herself she will leave with a pair of socks.
She also shared a humorous confession about the last lie she told: claiming she had fed the dog while hurriedly doing so. When asked what she owes her parents, she replied that she owes them nothing, noting that while they gave her a lot, they also extracted their pound of flesh. She said they made their peace in their final hours.
Reflecting on love, Kingsolver offered a nuanced view. At 16, she said love feels like breaking the speed limit. Years later, it feels like a warm bath. When asked if she would rather have more sex, money, or fame, she suggested adding a happy marriage to the list.
Kingsolver also touched on her past work cleaning houses, where she was often referred to as “the cleaning girl” rather than by her name. She described this as the worst job she has ever done. When asked about a living person she despises, she referenced a figure that a growing majority of her compatriots would like to never see on news feeds again, noting the irony that this person would not know whom she was referring to.
Source: The Guardian
