Rumer Godden

Rumer Godden is considered by many to be one of the foremost English language authors of the 20th century. She wrote some sixty works during her life, for both adults and children, drawing on her experiences of life in India and Britain.

She won the Whitbread Award for Children’s Literature in 1972 and was awarded the OBE in 1993. Nine of her books have been made into films.

Her last book, Cromartie versus The God Shiva, was published in 1997 and she died in 1998, aged ninety-one.

The influence of India is reflected in many of her books, including Black Narcissus, The River, and The Dark Horse, and her time in France influenced the dramatic The Greengage Summer.

Her dancing career is reflected in A Candle for St Jude and Thursday’s Children, and her interest in the religious life is shown in In This House of Brede and Five for Sorrow Ten for Joy.

She also wrote short stories, poetry and many books for children, the best known being The Dolls House, The Diddakoi and The Story of Holly and Ivy.

Her books have been translated into many languages and most are now available as e-books.