Philippa Gregory

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Philippa Gregory
Born 9 January 1954 (1954-01-09) (age 54)
Kenya
Occupation Novelist
Genres Fantasy, Historical novel

Philippa Gregory (born 9 January 1954) is a British novelist, mainly associated with the historical fiction genre.

Contents

[edit] Biography

[edit] Early life and academic career

Philippa Gregory was born in Kenya. When Gregory was two years old, her family moved to England. She was a "rebel" at school, but eventually decided to go to University and was educated at the University of Sussex. She worked in BBC radio for two years before attending the University of Edinburgh, where she earned her doctorate in 18th century literature. Gregory, who has taught at the University of Durham, University of Teesside, and the Open University, was made a Fellow of Kingston University in 1994.

[edit] Writing

Gregory's academic background has given her a knowledge of and enthusiasm for many periods of history but particularly for the Tudor period and the 18th Century. Her research in 18th-century literature led her to write the bestselling Lacey trilogy - Wideacre, The Favoured Child and Meridon. This was followed by The Wise Woman, described[citation needed] as a dazzling, disturbing novel of dark powers and desires set against the rich tapestry of the Reformation. A Respectable Trade, a novel of slave trade in England, set in 18th century Bristol, was adapted by Gregory for an acclaimed four part drama series for BBC television. Gregory's script was nominated for a BAFTA, won an award from the Committee for Racial Equality, and the film was shown worldwide.

Two novels about a gardening family at the heart of the English Civil War: Earthly Joys and Virgin Earth won her new fans, while her contemporary novels--Perfectly Correct, Mrs Hartley, Growth Centre, The Little House and Zelda's Cut--remain favourites with many readers. She has also written for children.

Some of Gregory's novels have won awards and have been adapted into television dramas. The most successful of her novels has been The Other Boleyn Girl, which was published in 2002 and adapted for BBC television in 2003 with Natascha McElhone, Jodhi May and Jared Harris. In the year of its publication, The Other Boleyn Girl also won the Parker Romantic Novel of the Year and it has subsequently spawned sequels - The Queen's Fool, The Virgin's Lover, The Constant Princess, The Boleyn Inheritance, and The Other Queen (to be published 2008.) Miramax bought the film rights to The Other Boleyn Girl and produced a film starring Scarlett Johansson as the title character and co-starring Natalie Portman, Eric Bana, Juno Temple and Kristin Scott Thomas. It was filmed in England and generally released in February 2008.

[edit] Media

Gregory is a frequent contributor to magazines and newspapers, with short stories, features and reviews. She is also a frequent broadcaster and a regular contestant on Round Britain Quiz for BBC Radio 4 and the Tudor expert for Channel 4's Time Team.

[edit] Private life

She lives in the North of England with her husband and two children. Her interests include riding, walking, skiing, and gardening.

[edit] Charity work

Gregory also runs a small charity building wells in school gardens in The Gambia. Fifty-six wells have been built by UK donors to date.

[edit] Bibliography (US Books)

[edit] Wideacre trilogy

  1. Wideacre (1987)
  2. The Favored Child (1989)
  3. Meridon (1990)

[edit] The Tudor series

  1. The Other Boleyn Girl (2001)
  2. The Queen's Fool (2003)
  3. The Virgin's Lover (2004)
  4. The Constant Princess (2005)
  5. The Boleyn Inheritance (2006)
  6. The Other Queen (2008)

[edit] Earthly Joys

  1. Earthly Joys (1998)
  2. Virgin Earth (1999)

[edit] Other works (Including UK Books)

  • A Respectable Trade (1992)
  • The Wise Woman (1992)
  • Fallen Skies (1994)
  • A Wisewoman (2002)
  • The Little House (1998)
  • Zelda's Cut (2001)
  • Perfectly Correct (1992)
  • Mrs. Hartley and the Growth Centre (1992)
  • Bread and Chocolate (2002)

[edit] Children's Works

  • A Pirate Story
  • Diggory and the Boa Conductor
  • The Little Pet Dragon
  • Princess Florizella
  • Princess Florizella and the Giant
  • Princess Florizella and the Wolves

[edit] External links