Ruth Rendell: memories of a friend who stood by me

Jeanette Winterson

Jeanette Winterson reflects on her first meeting with Ruth Rendell nearly 30 years ago and the remarkable friendship that followed

Ruth Rendell (left) and Jeanette Winterson. Photograph: Fenris Oswin

Friday 8 May 2015 - The Guardian

I met Ruth Rendell in 1986. She was living in a large house in Polstead, Suffolk with her husband, Don. I was living in a room in Kentish Town, London. Ruth had been a successful writer for 22 years and published 25 novels. I had published my first novel Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit the year before.

Ruth and Don were due to depart for Australia for six weeks. They needed someone to look after their four cats and to keep an eye on things. I needed to get away from my drunken upstairs neighbour who played one tune on his piano day and night. Ruth’s agent, Pat Kavanagh, was my agent, too, and suggested a match.

More