Zadie Smith to announce shock retirement?

Sad news for Smith fans. Speculation had been rife that the author of White Teeth is about to announce her retirement from all public activities, at age 50, with immediate effect.

UPDATE 21/05/2026 : This story seems to be false. (read more)

Being an author isn't fun anymore

“As we get older, there are phases of life that we enter into, and being an author just isn't fun anymore,” she might have said, says a source who remained anonymous. Other reports hinted that she may branch out into other creative fields she is better at (and more interested in), though they didn't provide any details.

#ThankYouZadie

For a little while on Wednesday evening, #ThankYouZadie was a trending hashtag on Twitter. As many fans reminisce and look back on all the unforgettable memories, some may wonder what about now made her make the decision.

“Zadie Smith was unlike any other author we’ve ever seen! #ThankYouZadie”
— @universalObserver, 20 May 2026

“I thought Zadie Smith retired about 5 years ago?!?”
— @millythom, 20 May 2026

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