Gillian Avery
Encyclopedia
Gillian Avery is a British children’s novelist and literary historian.
She was born in Reigate
on 30 September 1926 and attended Dunottar School there. She worked first as a journalist on the Surrey Mirror, then for Chambers Encyclopedia and Oxford University Press
. In 1952 she married the literary scholar A.O.J. Cockshut, with whom she moved to Manchester, returning to Oxford in 1966.
She is the author of several studies of children’s history and early children’s literature; and this scholarly interest is reflected in her own books for children, which have a Victorian setting. The first, The Warden’s Niece (1957) is a witty adventure story, in which Maria runs away from her stultifying boarding school to live with her great-uncle, the head of an Oxford college. He decides to let her stay, impressed by her academic ambitions (she wants to become Professor of Greek); and she proves her abilities as a researcher by uncovering a piece of history from the civil war. Characters from the book reappear in The Elephant War (1960), which concerns the attempt to prevent the sale of London Zoo’s Jumbo
to P.T. Barnum, and The Italian Spring (1962).
Non-fiction
She was born in Reigate
Reigate
Reigate is a historic market town in Surrey, England, at the foot of the North Downs, and in the London commuter belt. It is one of the main constituents of the Borough of Reigate and Banstead...
on 30 September 1926 and attended Dunottar School there. She worked first as a journalist on the Surrey Mirror, then for Chambers Encyclopedia and Oxford University Press
Oxford University Press
Oxford University Press is the largest university press in the world. It is a department of the University of Oxford and is governed by a group of 15 academics appointed by the Vice-Chancellor known as the Delegates of the Press. They are headed by the Secretary to the Delegates, who serves as...
. In 1952 she married the literary scholar A.O.J. Cockshut, with whom she moved to Manchester, returning to Oxford in 1966.
She is the author of several studies of children’s history and early children’s literature; and this scholarly interest is reflected in her own books for children, which have a Victorian setting. The first, The Warden’s Niece (1957) is a witty adventure story, in which Maria runs away from her stultifying boarding school to live with her great-uncle, the head of an Oxford college. He decides to let her stay, impressed by her academic ambitions (she wants to become Professor of Greek); and she proves her abilities as a researcher by uncovering a piece of history from the civil war. Characters from the book reappear in The Elephant War (1960), which concerns the attempt to prevent the sale of London Zoo’s Jumbo
Jumbo
Jumbo was a large African Bush Elephant, born 1861 in the French Sudan – present-day Mali – imported to a Paris zoo, transferred to the London Zoo in 1865, and sold in 1882 to P. T...
to P.T. Barnum, and The Italian Spring (1962).
Selected publications
Children’s books- The Warden’s Niece 1957
- Trespassers at Charlcote 1958
- James Without Thomas 1959
- The Elephant War 1960
- To Tame a Sister 1961
- The Greatest Gresham 1962
- The Peacock House 1963
- The Italian Spring 1964 (published in America as Maria's Italian Spring)
- Call of the Valley 1968
- A Likely Lad 1971 (winner of the Guardian AwardGuardian AwardThe Guardian Children's Fiction Prize or Guardian Award is a prominent award for works of children's literature by British or Commonwealth authors, published in the United Kingdom during the preceding year. The award has been given annually since 1967, and is decided by a panel of authors and the...
, adapted for television in 1990) - Ellen's Birthday 1971
- Ellen and the Queen 1972
- Huck and her Time Machine 1977
- Mouldy’s Orphan 1978
Non-fiction
- Mrs EwingJuliana Horatia EwingJuliana Horatia Ewing was an English writer of children's stories.-Youth and marriage:Known as Julie, she was the second of ten children of the Reverend Alfred Gatty, vicar of Ecclesfield in Yorkshire, and Margaret Gatty, who was herself a children's author...
(London: Bodley Head) 1961 - Childhood’s Pattern, A study of the heroes and heroines of children’s fiction 1770–1950 (London: Hodder and Stoughton) 1975
- The best type of girl, A history of girls' independent schools (London) 1991
- Cheltenham Ladies, An illustrated history of the Cheltenham Ladies' CollegeCheltenham Ladies' CollegeThe Cheltenham Ladies' College is an independent boarding and day school for girls aged 11 to 18 in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England.-History:The school was founded in 1853...
(London: James and James Ltd) 2003 - As editor: The Journal of Emily PepysEmily Pepys-Family:Emily was born on 9 August 1833, at Westmill, Hertfordshire, where her father was rector at that time. Her father, Henry Pepys , was created Anglican bishop of Sodor and Man in 1840 and translated only a year later to Worcester. He played a minor political role as a Liberal in the House of...
(London: Prospect) 1984