Pauline Gedge
Encyclopedia
Pauline Gedge is a Canadian novelist best known for her historical fiction
trilogies, Lords of the Two Lands and The King’s Men. She also writes science fiction
, fantasy
and horror
. Her 13 novels have sold more than six million copies in 18 languages.
, New Zealand
. She spent part of her childhood in Oxfordshire, England, before her family moved to Manitoba
and then settled in Alberta in 1966.
She studied at the University of Manitoba
and at a teachers' college in New Zealand
.
Gedge wrote unpublished poetry for years. She tried to write contemporary mainstream fiction in the early 1970s and then gave up, turning to ancient Egypt for inspiration. She based her first published novel, Child of the Morning, on the historical figure of Hatshepsut
, Egypt
’s only female pharaoh. She wrote the novel in six weeks and went on to win the Alberta Search-for-a-New Novelist Competition in 1977.
The Eagle and the Raven received the Jean Boujassy award from the Société des Gens de Lettres
in France and The Twelfth Transforming won the Writers Guild of Alberta Best Novel of the Year Award.
She has also written in other genres. Stargate is science fiction
, The Covenant is contemporary horror fiction
, and Scroll of Saqqara incorporates some fantasy
elements.
Gedge's ex-husband, Bernie Ramanauskas, provided the historical research for many of her novels. Gedge lives in Edgerton, Alberta
and has two sons, Simon and Roger.
Historical fiction
Historical fiction tells a story that is set in the past. That setting is usually real and drawn from history, and often contains actual historical persons, but the principal characters tend to be fictional...
trilogies, Lords of the Two Lands and The King’s Men. She also writes science fiction
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
, fantasy
Fantasy
Fantasy is a genre of fiction that commonly uses magic and other supernatural phenomena as a primary element of plot, theme, or setting. Many works within the genre take place in imaginary worlds where magic is common...
and horror
Horror fiction
Horror fiction also Horror fantasy is a philosophy of literature, which is intended to, or has the capacity to frighten its readers, inducing feelings of horror and terror. It creates an eerie atmosphere. Horror can be either supernatural or non-supernatural...
. Her 13 novels have sold more than six million copies in 18 languages.
Life and career
Pauline Gedge was born December 11, 1945 in AucklandAuckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
. She spent part of her childhood in Oxfordshire, England, before her family moved to Manitoba
Manitoba
Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other...
and then settled in Alberta in 1966.
She studied at the University of Manitoba
University of Manitoba
The University of Manitoba , in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, is the largest university in the province of Manitoba. It is Manitoba's most comprehensive and only research-intensive post-secondary educational institution. It was founded in 1877, making it Western Canada’s first university. It placed...
and at a teachers' college in New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
.
Gedge wrote unpublished poetry for years. She tried to write contemporary mainstream fiction in the early 1970s and then gave up, turning to ancient Egypt for inspiration. She based her first published novel, Child of the Morning, on the historical figure of Hatshepsut
Hatshepsut
Hatshepsut also Hatchepsut; meaning Foremost of Noble Ladies;1508–1458 BC) was the fifth pharaoh of the eighteenth dynasty of Ancient Egypt...
, Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
’s only female pharaoh. She wrote the novel in six weeks and went on to win the Alberta Search-for-a-New Novelist Competition in 1977.
The Eagle and the Raven received the Jean Boujassy award from the Société des Gens de Lettres
Société des gens de lettres
The Sociéte des gens de lettres de France is a writers' association founded in 1838 by the notable French authors Honoré de Balzac, Victor Hugo, Alexandre Dumas, and George Sand...
in France and The Twelfth Transforming won the Writers Guild of Alberta Best Novel of the Year Award.
She has also written in other genres. Stargate is science fiction
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
, The Covenant is contemporary horror fiction
Horror fiction
Horror fiction also Horror fantasy is a philosophy of literature, which is intended to, or has the capacity to frighten its readers, inducing feelings of horror and terror. It creates an eerie atmosphere. Horror can be either supernatural or non-supernatural...
, and Scroll of Saqqara incorporates some fantasy
Fantasy
Fantasy is a genre of fiction that commonly uses magic and other supernatural phenomena as a primary element of plot, theme, or setting. Many works within the genre take place in imaginary worlds where magic is common...
elements.
Gedge's ex-husband, Bernie Ramanauskas, provided the historical research for many of her novels. Gedge lives in Edgerton, Alberta
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
and has two sons, Simon and Roger.
Prizes and honours
- 1977 Alberta Search-for-a-New Novelist Competition
- 1978 Jean Boujassy award from the Société des Gens des LettresSociété des gens de lettresThe Sociéte des gens de lettres de France is a writers' association founded in 1838 by the notable French authors Honoré de Balzac, Victor Hugo, Alexandre Dumas, and George Sand...
- 1984 Writers Guild of Alberta Best Novel of the Year Award
Novels
- Child of the Morning (1977)
- The Eagle and the Raven (1978)
- Stargate - 1982
- The Twelfth Transforming (1984)
- Scroll of Saqqara (1990) (published under the title Mirage in the U.S.)
- The Covenant (1992)
- House of Dreams (1994) (a.k.a. Lady of the Reeds)
- House of Illusions (1996)
- Lords of the Two Lands trilogy (1998–2000):
- The Hippopotamus Marsh: Lords of the Two Lands, Volume One (1998)
- The Oasis: Lords of the Two Lands, Volume Two (1999)
- The Horus Road: Lords of the Two Lands, Volume Three (2000)
- The King's Man trilogy (2007–2011):
- The Twice Born (2007)
- Seer of Egypt (2008)
- The King's Man (2011)