Carola Oman facts for kids
Carola Oman was an English writer who lived from 1897 to 1978. She wrote many historical novels, biographies, and books for children. She is especially known for her version of the Robin Hood story and for a book she wrote about Admiral Lord Nelson in 1946. She was also honored with the CBE.
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About Carola Oman
Carola Mary Anima Oman was born on May 11, 1897, in Oxford, England. She was the second of three children. Her father, Sir Charles Oman, was a well-known military historian. Her mother was Mary Maclagan. Carola described her childhood as lively and social in her book, An Oxford Childhood.
Childhood and Schooling
As a child, Carola loved writing plays. Her friends would often perform them. She also enjoyed photography. In 1906, she started attending Miss Batty's school, which later became Wychwood School in Oxford. She wanted to go to a boarding school, but her parents preferred her to stay at Miss Batty's until 1914.
In 1908, her family moved to Frewin Hall, which is now part of Brasenose College, Oxford. Her brother, Charles, became a curator at the Victoria and Albert Museum. He wrote books about old silverware. Her niece, Julia Trevelyan Oman, became a famous set designer.
Adult Life and Family
During World War I, Carola Oman worked as a VAD nurse in England and France from 1918 to 1919. After leaving the service in 1919, she met Gerald Foy Ray Lenanton. He was a soldier returning from France. They married on April 26, 1922.
Gerald Lenanton was knighted in 1946 for his work during World War II. This meant Carola became Lady Lenanton. The couple did not have children. From 1928, they lived at Bride Hall, a beautiful old house in Ayot St Lawrence, Hertfordshire. In 1965, Carola wrote Ayot Rectory – A Family Memoir, about a family who lived in the village long ago. She spoke fondly of her neighbor, the famous writer George Bernard Shaw. Gerald Lenanton passed away in 1952.
Carola Oman was also good friends with the novelist Georgette Heyer. Georgette even helped Carola by creating an index for her book, Britain against Napoleon. Another writer friend from Oxford was Joanna Cannan.
Carola Oman's Books
Carola Oman wrote for over 50 years. She published more than 30 books. These included fiction, history, and biographies for both adults and children.
| From The Guardian obituary for Carola Oman |
|---|
| A poetess, a novelist, but above all an historian,...Carola Oman was renowned for her writing style. She did not so much popularise history as elevate the level of popular history. |
Early Works and Historical Novels
Her experiences as a nurse during the war inspired her first published work. It was a book of poems called The Menin Road and Other Poems (1919). Her poems were later included in a collection called The Bookman Treasury of Living Poets.
However, Carola Oman soon started writing historical fiction. Her first novel, The Road Royal (1924), was about Mary, Queen of Scots. She wrote many other historical novels. These included books about James IV of Scotland (King Heart), the Wars of the Roses (Crouchback), Empress Matilda (The Empress), and Bonnie Prince Charlie (Over the Water). She also published two novels under the pen name C. Lenanton.
Books for Young Readers
Even though her adult historical novels were popular, Carola Oman later said they were "very bad." From the mid-1930s, she focused more on writing biographies. However, she also wrote several historical novels especially for younger readers.
One of her most famous children's books was Robin Hood: Prince of Outlaws (1937). This book was very influential and stayed in print for at least 40 years. Her first novel for young readers was Ferry the Fearless (1936), which was about the Third Crusade. Other books for children included Alfred, King of the English (1939) and Baltic Spy (1940).
Biographies and Awards
Carola Oman's most important work was her 1946 biography of Horatio Nelson. She used many new materials that other writers had not seen before. This book, Nelson: a Biography, won the Sunday Times Prize for English Literature.
In 1953, her biography of the general Sir John Moore won the James Tait Black Memorial Prize. This showed how respected her historical writing was. She even gave a lecture about Sir John Moore to a group of historians in London.
Later, Carola Oman wrote biographies about other famous people. These included the actor David Garrick (1958), Mary of Modena (1962), and Sir Walter Scott (The Wizard of the North, 1973). People praised her ability to make history interesting and accurate. An obituary said she "elevated the level of popular history."
Honours and Legacy
Carola Oman was appointed a trustee of the National Maritime Museum. She also became a trustee of the National Portrait Gallery. In 1957, she was awarded a CBE for her contributions.
She passed away at Ayot St Lawrence on June 11, 1978. There is a special memorial for her and her husband in the village church.
External resources
- The full text of the David Garrick biography online: Retrieved 8 July 2012.
- Carola Oman's World War I poem "Unloading Ambulance Train", on a school website: Retrieved 1 August 2012.
