Kathryn Stockett
Kathryn Stockett | |
|---|---|
 Kathryn Stockett speaks at the University of Alabama in 2014 | |
| Born | 1969 (age 56–57) Jackson, Mississippi, U.S. |
| Occupation | Author |
| Alma mater | University of Alabama |
| Genre | Adult fiction |
| Notable works | The Help |
| Spouse | Keith Rogers (div. 2011) |
| Children | 1 |
Kathryn Stockett is an American novelist. She is known for her 2009 debut novel, The Help, which is about African-American maids working in white households in Jackson, Mississippi, during the 1960s.
Career
Stockett worked in magazine publishing while living in New York City before publishing her first novel,[1] which she began writing after the September 11 attacks.[2] The Help took her five years to complete, and the book was rejected by 60 literary agents before agent Susan Ramer agreed to represent Stockett.[1][3] The Help rose to the number one on the New York Times bestseller list for over a year after its publication[4] and climbed best seller charts a few months after it was released.[5][6] As of 2025, it has sold 15 million copies[7][8], has been published in 39 languages[9] and spent more than 100 weeks on The New York Times Best Seller list.[10][11] The novel was adapted into a critically acclaimed film released in 2011, featuring an ensemble cast and earning nominations for several major awards.[12][13][14]
Stockett's second novel, The Calamity Club is set for release on May 2026.[15][7][16]
Personal life
Stockett grew up in Jackson, Mississippi.[17] After graduating from the University of Alabama with a degree in English and Creative Writing, she moved to New York City. She lived there for 16 years and worked in magazine publishing and marketing. She is divorced and has a daughter.[6][18]
Reflective of her first novel, Stockett was very close to an African American domestic worker.[19]
A lawsuit was filed in a Mississippi court by Ablene Cooper, a housekeeper who used to work for Stockett's brother. It claimed that Stockett used her likeness in the book.[20] A Hinds County, Mississippi judge threw the case out of court, citing the statute of limitations.[21] Stockett denies her claim of stealing her likeness and says she only met her briefly.[21]
References
- ^ a b Calkin, Jessamy (July 16, 2009). "The maid's tale: Kathryn Stockett examines slavery and racism in America's Deep South". The Daily Telegraph. London. Retrieved 2009-10-20.
- ^ Suddath, Claire (11 November 2009). "Kathryn Stockett, Author of The Help". Time. Retrieved 3 November 2017.
- ^ "Kathryn Stockett's 'The Help' Turned Down 60 Times Before Becoming a Best Seller". More Magazine.
- ^ Jones, Suzanne W. (2014). "The Divided Reception of The Help". Southern Cultures. 20 (1): 7–25. doi:10.1353/scu.2014.0008. ISSN 1534-1488. Retrieved 2026-01-16.
- ^ Memmott, Carol (July 31, 2009). "Kathryn Stockett's 'The Help' is the hot book this summer". USA Today. Retrieved 2009-10-20.
- ^ a b Williams, Wyatt (4 August 2011). "Kathryn Stockett: Life in the belle jar". Creative Loafing. Archived from the original on April 7, 2013. Retrieved 7 August 2011.
- ^ a b Alter, Alexandra (2025-03-07). "Kathryn Stockett, Who Wrote 'The Help,' Has a Second Novel". The New York Times. Retrieved 2026-01-15.
- ^ "Fig Tree to publish new novel from bestselling The Help author Kathryn Stockett". The Bookseller (in Portuguese). 2025-03-10. Retrieved 2026-01-16.
- ^ ""The Help" author on book's racial viewpoint". CBS News. 2011-08-10. Retrieved 2026-01-16.
- ^ Williams, Wyatt. "Kathryn Stockett: Life in the belle jar". Creative Loafing Atlanta. Retrieved 4 August 2011.
- ^ D'Souza, Karen (2 August 2011). "'The Help' is poised to become chick flick of the summer". San Jose Mercury News. Retrieved 4 August 2011.
- ^ Kehe, Marjorie (May 14, 2010). "With book sales still strong, 'The Help' began filming in 2010". Christian Science Monitor. Retrieved 2010-05-26.
- ^ Honeycutt, Kirk (2011-08-07). "'The Help': Film Review". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2026-01-16.
- ^ Dargis, Manohla (2011-08-09). "'The Help' Spans Two Worlds, White and Black". The New York Times. Retrieved 2026-01-16.
- ^ Tagen-Dye, Carly (2025-11-13). "'The Help' Author Kathryn Stockett to Publish Long-Awaited Second Novel 'The Calamity Club'". People.com. Retrieved 2026-01-15.
- ^ Stockett, Kathryn. "The Calamity Club". Penguin Books UK. Retrieved 2026-01-16.
- ^ "Kathyrn Stockett from Jackson, Mississippi, Author of the Help". www.mswritersandmusicians.com. Retrieved 2020-06-25.
- ^ Calkin, Jessamy (July 16, 2009). "The maid's tale: Kathryn Stockett examines slavery and racism in America's Deep South". The Daily Telegraph. London. Retrieved 2009-10-20.
- ^ Maslin, Janet (February 18, 2009). "Racial Insults and Quiet Bravery in 1960s Mississippi". New York Times. Retrieved 2009-10-20.
- ^ James, Susan (February 22, 2011), Black Maid Sues, Says 'The Help' Is Humiliating, ABC News, retrieved July 26, 2015
- ^ a b Mitchell, Jerry. "'The Help' lawsuit tossed out". The Clarion Ledger. Retrieved 12 September 2011.