Naomi Jacob
Encyclopedia
Naomi Eleanor Clare Jacob (July 1, 1884 in Ripon
, North Yorkshire
, England
- August 27, 1964 in Sirmione
, Italy
) was an English
author, actress and broadcaster.
and her mother was also a teacher there. Jacob's pseudonym
, Ellington Gray, shows her close connections to the town and her family. Her grandfather, Robert Ellington Collinson, was a Mayor of the town and owner of the Unicorn Hotel where the Prince of Wales once stayed. Her great-grandfather Thomas was the second Chief Police officer in the town.
Jacob had a difficult upbringing. Her parents divorced because of her father's wayward follies and his violent temper. She wanted to finish her schooling and went to live in Middlesbrough
where she taught as a student teacher. Her sister Mu and mother moved south to start a new life.
She left the teaching profession to become an actress in revue. It was around the same time that she contracted tuberculosis
, a condition that was to affect her for the rest of her life. With physical activity becoming more difficult, Jacob channelled her creative efforts into writing. As well as a number of novels such as the Gollantz Saga and An Irish Boy, Jacob wrote non-fiction, biographies and newspaper columns. Her mother also became a novelist, publishing under the name Nina Abbott.
Her early years in Yorkshire
gave her a love for all things flora and fauna. She loved cats and dogs and is often seen in photographs with her favourite Pekinese called Sammy. Jacob even wrote a book from the point of view of one of her dogs entitled Prince China. By himself, but dictated to Naomi Jacob.
Because of her strong links to the theatre, she was a well-known figure in the profession. Known by her friends as Micky, she had a strong circle of friends including Marguerite Broadfoote, Radclyffe Hall
, 'Little Titch', Marie Lloyd
, Bransby Williams
and many others. She was also active politically standing as a Labour MP and becoming involved with the Women's Suffrage
movement. In one of her autobiographies, she mentions putting an alarm clock in a tin box and placing it next to the door of a seaside home being visited by Liberal Prime Minister David Lloyd George
. The ticking box had to be rushed away and thrown in the sea by concerned friends who believed it to be a bomb.
Jacob moved to Lake Garda
in 1930 because the weather was kinder to her lungs. There is a blue plaque
erected in her honour in Sirmione
, where she lived. She was well known in the town and her home was known as 'Casa Micky'. During world War II
she returned to the UK to help in the war effort. She worked for Entertainments National Service Association
producing morale boosting broadcasts and live performances for the troops. She never gave up her home in Italy and returned soon afterwards.
Her novels tend to stay within the realms of romantic fiction. Her books are well read in libraries throughout the English-speaking world and there are rumours that her books are being considered by film producers. Her work has many critics who believe her work to resemble that of Barbara Taylor Bradford
. Recent studies of her work in Sheffield Hallam University
believe her work to be of greater value. Her novels often tackle the issue of prejudice against Jews, domestic violence and the political consequences of Pogrom
s in the nineteenth century. Many of these books were written before the Second World War and were based on the experiences of her paternal family who escaped violence in Western Prussia.
Although not well known nowadays, in her day Naomi Jacob was a well loved and respected figure despite her eccentric manner. Her relationships with other women were an open secret but never publicly disclosed during her lifetime. No-one could dim her enthusiasm for her work nor the kindness that many saw in her. She died in 1964.
Ripon
Ripon is a cathedral city, market town and successor parish in the Borough of Harrogate, North Yorkshire, England, located at the confluence of two streams of the River Ure in the form of the Laver and Skell. The city is noted for its main feature the Ripon Cathedral which is architecturally...
, North Yorkshire
North Yorkshire
North Yorkshire is a non-metropolitan or shire county located in the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England, and a ceremonial county primarily in that region but partly in North East England. Created in 1974 by the Local Government Act 1972 it covers an area of , making it the largest...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
- August 27, 1964 in Sirmione
Sirmione
Sirmione is a comune in the province of Brescia, in Lombardy . It is bounded by the comunes of Desenzano del Garda and Peschiera del Garda in the province of Verona and the region of Veneto...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
) was an English
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
author, actress and broadcaster.
Biography
Naomi Jacob was born the second daughter of Samuel Jacob and Nina Collinson. Her father was Headmaster of what is now Ripon Grammar SchoolRipon Grammar School
Ripon Grammar School is a co-educational, selective, state secondary grammar school and specialist engineering college located in Ripon, North Yorkshire, England...
and her mother was also a teacher there. Jacob's pseudonym
Pseudonym
A pseudonym is a name that a person assumes for a particular purpose and that differs from his or her original orthonym...
, Ellington Gray, shows her close connections to the town and her family. Her grandfather, Robert Ellington Collinson, was a Mayor of the town and owner of the Unicorn Hotel where the Prince of Wales once stayed. Her great-grandfather Thomas was the second Chief Police officer in the town.
Jacob had a difficult upbringing. Her parents divorced because of her father's wayward follies and his violent temper. She wanted to finish her schooling and went to live in Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough is a large town situated on the south bank of the River Tees in north east England, that sits within the ceremonial county of North Yorkshire...
where she taught as a student teacher. Her sister Mu and mother moved south to start a new life.
She left the teaching profession to become an actress in revue. It was around the same time that she contracted tuberculosis
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...
, a condition that was to affect her for the rest of her life. With physical activity becoming more difficult, Jacob channelled her creative efforts into writing. As well as a number of novels such as the Gollantz Saga and An Irish Boy, Jacob wrote non-fiction, biographies and newspaper columns. Her mother also became a novelist, publishing under the name Nina Abbott.
Her early years in Yorkshire
Yorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
gave her a love for all things flora and fauna. She loved cats and dogs and is often seen in photographs with her favourite Pekinese called Sammy. Jacob even wrote a book from the point of view of one of her dogs entitled Prince China. By himself, but dictated to Naomi Jacob.
Because of her strong links to the theatre, she was a well-known figure in the profession. Known by her friends as Micky, she had a strong circle of friends including Marguerite Broadfoote, Radclyffe Hall
Radclyffe Hall
Radclyffe Hall was an English poet and author, best known for the lesbian classic The Well of Loneliness.- Life :...
, 'Little Titch', Marie Lloyd
Marie Lloyd
Matilda Alice Victoria Wood was an English music hall singer, best known as Marie Lloyd. Her ability to add lewdness to the most innocent of lyrics led to frequent clashes with the guardians of morality...
, Bransby Williams
Bransby Williams
Bransby Williams was a British actor, comedian and monologist. He became known as "The Irving of the Music Halls".-Early years:...
and many others. She was also active politically standing as a Labour MP and becoming involved with the Women's Suffrage
Suffrage
Suffrage, political franchise, or simply the franchise, distinct from mere voting rights, is the civil right to vote gained through the democratic process...
movement. In one of her autobiographies, she mentions putting an alarm clock in a tin box and placing it next to the door of a seaside home being visited by Liberal Prime Minister David Lloyd George
David Lloyd George
David Lloyd George, 1st Earl Lloyd-George of Dwyfor OM, PC was a British Liberal politician and statesman...
. The ticking box had to be rushed away and thrown in the sea by concerned friends who believed it to be a bomb.
Jacob moved to Lake Garda
Lake Garda
Lake Garda is the largest lake in Italy. It is located in Northern Italy, about half-way between Brescia and Verona, and between Venice and Milan. Glaciers formed this alpine region at the end of the last ice age...
in 1930 because the weather was kinder to her lungs. There is a blue plaque
Blue plaque
A blue plaque is a permanent sign installed in a public place to commemorate a link between that location and a famous person or event, serving as a historical marker....
erected in her honour in Sirmione
Sirmione
Sirmione is a comune in the province of Brescia, in Lombardy . It is bounded by the comunes of Desenzano del Garda and Peschiera del Garda in the province of Verona and the region of Veneto...
, where she lived. She was well known in the town and her home was known as 'Casa Micky'. During world War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
she returned to the UK to help in the war effort. She worked for Entertainments National Service Association
Entertainments National Service Association
The Entertainments National Service Association or ENSA was an organisation set up in 1939 by Basil Dean and Leslie Henson to provide entertainment for British armed forces personnel during World War II. ENSA operated as part of the Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes...
producing morale boosting broadcasts and live performances for the troops. She never gave up her home in Italy and returned soon afterwards.
Her novels tend to stay within the realms of romantic fiction. Her books are well read in libraries throughout the English-speaking world and there are rumours that her books are being considered by film producers. Her work has many critics who believe her work to resemble that of Barbara Taylor Bradford
Barbara Taylor Bradford
Barbara Taylor Bradford OBE is an English novelist, and one of the world's most beloved storytellers. Her debut novel, A Woman of Substance, was published in 1979 and has sold over 32 million copies worldwide. To date, she has written 27 novels -- all bestsellers on both sides of the Atlantic...
. Recent studies of her work in Sheffield Hallam University
Sheffield Hallam University
Sheffield Hallam University is a higher education institution in South Yorkshire, England, based on two sites in Sheffield. City Campus is located in the city centre, close to Sheffield railway station, and Collegiate Crescent Campus is about two miles away, adjacent to Ecclesall Road in...
believe her work to be of greater value. Her novels often tackle the issue of prejudice against Jews, domestic violence and the political consequences of Pogrom
Pogrom
A pogrom is a form of violent riot, a mob attack directed against a minority group, and characterized by killings and destruction of their homes and properties, businesses, and religious centres...
s in the nineteenth century. Many of these books were written before the Second World War and were based on the experiences of her paternal family who escaped violence in Western Prussia.
Although not well known nowadays, in her day Naomi Jacob was a well loved and respected figure despite her eccentric manner. Her relationships with other women were an open secret but never publicly disclosed during her lifetime. No-one could dim her enthusiasm for her work nor the kindness that many saw in her. She died in 1964.
Books
- Power
- Jacob Ussher
- Under New Management
- Rock and Sand
- The Cap of Youth
- Young Emmanuel
- Leopards and Spots
- The Beloved Physician
- Private Gollantz
- The Man Who Found Himself
- The Morning Will Come
- White Wool
- Sean Unknown ...
- Honour's a Mistress
- That Wild Lie ...
- A Passage Perilous
- The Plough
- Gollantz
- Roots
- Mary of Delight
- Props
- Every Other Gift
- Poor Straw
- The Heart of the House
- Groping
- They Left the Land
- The Loaded Stick
- Sally Scarth
- Generations
- Staws in Amber
- Honour Come Back
- The Porcelain Clay
- The Founder of the House
- No Easy Way
- Barren Metal
- The Lenient God
- Time Piece
- Fade Out
- Antonia
- The Irish Boy
Autobiographies
- Robert, Nana and Me
- Me: A Chronicle about Other People
- Our Marie - Marie LloydMarie LloydMatilda Alice Victoria Wood was an English music hall singer, best known as Marie Lloyd. Her ability to add lewdness to the most innocent of lyrics led to frequent clashes with the guardians of morality...
- Me Again
- Me in Wartime
- Me in the Kitchen
- Me in the Mediterranean
- Me over There
- Me and Mine
- Me Looking Back
- Me and the Swans
External links
- Naomi Jacob Papers at the Howard Gotlieb Archival Research Center at Boston UniversityBoston UniversityBoston University is a private research university located in Boston, Massachusetts. With more than 4,000 faculty members and more than 31,000 students, Boston University is one of the largest private universities in the United States and one of Boston's largest employers...
- The Hilda Tablet plays
- The family's love of wildlife.