M. NourbeSe Philip

M. NourbeSe Philip was born in Tobago. A poet, novelist, playwright, and lawyer, NourbeSe Philip holds a BSC in economics as well as an MS in political science from the University of the West Indies, and a law degree from the University of Western Ontario in London, Ontario, Canada.

NourbeSe Philip has published four books of poetry, including Zong! (Wesleyan University Press, 2008); She Tries Her Tongue; Her Silence Softly Breaks (Casa de las Americas, 1988), winner of the Casa de las Americas prize; Salmon Courage (Williams Wallace Inc. Stratford, 1983); and Thorns (Williams Wallace Inc. Stratford, 1980). She is also the author of the novels Harriet’s Daughter (The Women’s Press, 1988) and Looking For Livingstone: An Odyssey of Silence (The Mercury Press, 1991), as well as numerous essay collections.

The recipient of awards, fellowships, and grants from the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation, McDowell, Canada Council, Toronto Arts Council, and Ontario Arts Council, NourbeSe Philip was also the winner of the 1988 Tradewinds Collective Prize in both poetry and the short story, the Toronto Arts Award in writing and publishing, the Rebels for a Cause Award, and the YWCA Woman of Distinction award in the Arts

NourbeSe Philip has taught creative fiction at New York University and lives in Canada.