--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The best novel I wrote was one called…" description: "\"The best novel I wrote was one called 'Crusoe's Daughter,' which never won any prizes. But I was getting somewhere in that. I'm not sure I have in any ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f8/jane-gardam-20104_any_the-best-novel-i-wrote-was-one-called-cr_3136913.png" --- # The best novel I wrote was one called 'Crusoe's Daughter,'… ![“The best novel I wrote was one called 'Crusoe's Daughter,' which never won any prizes. But I was getting somewhere in that. I'm not sure I have in any of the others.” quote by Jane Gardam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f8/jane-gardam-20104_any_the-best-novel-i-wrote-was-one-called-cr_3136913.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f8/jane-gardam-20104_any_the-best-novel-i-wrote-was-one-called-cr_3136913.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f8/jane-gardam-20104_any_the-best-novel-i-wrote-was-one-called-cr_3136913.png) > “The best novel I wrote was one called 'Crusoe's Daughter,' which never won any prizes. But I was getting somewhere in that. I'm not sure I have in any of the others.” [Jane Gardam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-gardam/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The author’s most personal work, “Crusoe’s Daughter,” received no awards, yet she feels it represents her best writing compared to other novels. **In simple terms:** Her favorite book didn’t win prizes but she values it most. Key Takeaway Trust your own judgment over external accolades. Themes creativity self‑assessment literature recognition pride Mood reflective inspirational Type literary personal When to use this quote - writing workshops - self‑reflection - publishing decisions - literary criticism Key Concepts authorial voice subjectivity artistic fulfillment Questions to Reflect On - How do you measure success in creative work? - What can writers learn from undervalued projects? A Different Perspective Awards often reflect trends, not intrinsic quality. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Daughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/daughter/) [Novel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/novel/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) ## Related quotes > [I haven't won any prizes or had any best sellers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glen-duncan/i-haven-t-won-any-prizes-or-had-any-best-sellers/) [Glen Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glen-duncan/) > [I have been very lucky, I have won prizes and I've even won the lottery.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erro/i-have-been-very-lucky-i-have-won-prizes-and-i-ve-even-won-the-lottery/) [Erro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erro/) > [Everybody has won, and all must have prizes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-carroll/everybody-has-won-and-all-must-have-prizes/) [Lewis Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-carroll/) > [Yes, I've won prizes for putting words on a computer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-north/yes-i-ve-won-prizes-for-putting-words-on-a-computer/) [Ryan North](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-north/) > [I'd never written a novel before, and I wrote a novel, and that turned out OK.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/i-d-never-written-a-novel-before-and-i-wrote-a-novel-and-that-turned/) [Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/) > [Before trying a novel I wrote a couple of plays.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-merrill/before-trying-a-novel-i-wrote-a-couple-of-plays/) [James Merrill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-merrill/) > [I wasn't aware I'd write the novel when I wrote the New Yorker story either. 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I didn't even see a bathtub, running water, hot water, commode - we didn't have any of that.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-robertson/we-were-so-poor-as-kids-i-didn-t-even-see-a-bathtub-running-water-hot/) [Phil Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-robertson/) > [We earned any fans with the way we play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-white/we-earned-any-fans-with-the-way-we-play/) [Jimmy White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-white/) > [Hard work and a good education will take you further than any government program.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-schock/hard-work-and-a-good-education-will-take-you-further-than-any/) [Aaron Schock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-schock/) > [Anyone who's read my 'Terror in the Skies' series knows that I have not been writing with an eye toward approval from any government…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-jacobsen/anyone-who-s-read-my-terror-in-the-skies-series-knows-that-i-have-not/) [Annie Jacobsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-jacobsen/) > [The system in Germany is different, as you sign up with a company for two or three years, and you work exclusively with them;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-wlaschiha/the-system-in-germany-is-different-as-you-sign-up-with-a-company-for/) [Tom Wlaschiha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-wlaschiha/) > [I'm writing about real things. 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