Janet Frame was born on August 28, 1924, in Dunedin, New Zealand. She was the third of five children in a working-class family of Scottish heritage. From a young age, Frame showed a love for reading and writing, and her parents encouraged her passion for storytelling.
After completing her primary education, Frame attended Dunedin College of Education where she enrolled in a teacher training course in 1943. During this time, she began to explore her creative writing skills and developed a unique voice that would later define her literary career.
In 1951, Frame published her debut collection of stories, titled The Lagoon and Other Stories. The book received critical acclaim and won a national literary prize. This early success marked the beginning of Frame's career as a writer, and she continued to publish poetry and short stories throughout the 1950s.
Despite her rising fame in the literary world, Frame struggled with mental health issues, including schizophrenia. At one point, she was even scheduled to undergo a lobotomy, but narrowly escaped the procedure. These challenges deeply influenced her writing and added a layer of complexity to her work.
Frame's most acclaimed works include the novel Owls Do Cry, which explores themes of family, mental illness, and identity. The novel is considered a modern classic and solidified Frame's reputation as a literary talent. The Pocket Mirror, another of Frame's notable works, delves into the complexities of self-reflection and personal growth.
Throughout her career, Frame received numerous accolades for her writing, including the prestigious Hubert Church Prose Award. Her unique style and poignant storytelling resonated with readers around the world, earning her a dedicated fan base.
Frame's life and work inspired the 1990 film An Angel at My Table, directed by Jane Campion. The film adaptation of her autobiographies brought Frame's story to a wider audience and cemented her place in literary history.
Janet Frame passed away on January 29, 2004, leaving behind a rich legacy of writing that continues to captivate readers to this day. Her exploration of identity, mental health, and the human experience remains relevant and impactful, solidifying her status as one of New Zealand's most iconic literary figures.