Jane Duncan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jane Duncan
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| Born | 10 March 1910 |
| Died | 20 October 1976 Jemimaville
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| Education | University of Glasgow |
| Occupation | author |
| Known for | 'My Friends' series of novels; and 'Camerons' series of children's books |
Jane Duncan (born Elizabeth Jane Cameron, March 10, 1910 – October 20, 1976) was a Scottish writer. She used the name Jane Duncan as her pen name. She is famous for her My Friends series of novels, which were partly based on her own life. She also wrote books for children, including the 'Camerons' series.
Contents
About Jane Duncan
Elizabeth Jane Cameron was born in Renton, West Dunbartonshire, Scotland, on March 10, 1910. She grew up in the Scottish Lowlands. Her father, Duncan Cameron, was a police officer.
When Jane was 10, her mother, Janet, sadly died. Her younger sister, Catherine, had also passed away when Jane was four. Jane's father raised her, and they moved often because of his job.
She went to Lenzie Academy for school. However, she spent a lot of her childhood in the Scottish Highlands on the Black Isle. She stayed at her grandparents' small farm, called "The Colony." This place later inspired "Reachfar" in her novels.
Early Life and Education
Jane studied at the University of Glasgow. She earned a degree in English, also learning French, Moral Philosophy, and Scottish History.
After university, during the Great Depression, it was hard to find work. Jane took many different jobs, like being a nursemaid, a companion, a secretary, and even a model.
When World War II began, she joined the WAAF. She worked in intelligence as a Flight Officer. She was in the Operations Room and later in Photographic Intelligence. It is thought she might have even worked at the top-secret Bletchley Park, where codebreakers helped win the war.
Life in Jamaica
After the war, Jane worked as a secretary again. In 1949, she moved to Jamaica for ten years with Alexander (Sandy) Clapperton. Sandy became a chief engineer on a large sugar plantation.
It was in Jamaica that Jane began her writing career. She started writing her first novel, My Friend Muriel, while Sandy was very ill. Before he passed away, Sandy learned that Jane had secured a deal to publish seven books with Macmillan Publishers.
Return to Scotland
In 1958, after Sandy's death, Jane returned to Scotland. She moved to Jemimaville, close to her grandparents' old farm. She lived with her uncle George in Rose Cottage.
She continued to write her novels there. She also bought some old ruined buildings nearby and worked in a local shop.
Jane was very close to her brother Jock and his children. Her youngest nephew, Ian, had learning difficulties. Jane helped her family accept him and also provided financial support. She later wrote about her brother's family in her children's books, calling them the "Camerons."
Later Years and Legacy
Jane Duncan died in Jemimaville on October 20, 1976, from a heart attack. She had just finished her last novel. She is buried in Kirkmichael cemetery. Her gravestone shows her pen name, Jane Duncan, with her real name, Elizabeth Jane Cameron, in brackets.
After her death, The Scotsman newspaper published an article about her. Her niece, Seonaid, said that Jane was a real confidante, meaning someone you could trust with secrets. Her nephew, Iain, remembered her as "a really clever woman." Today, a local trust sells a booklet about her and offers tours for visitors.
Her Books
In 1959, Jane Duncan became very popular when Macmillan Publishers announced they would publish seven of her books. The first was My Friends the Miss Boyds. She wrote 19 books in this series, with the last one, My Friends George and Tom, published in 1976.
The My Friends Series
The My Friends series is told by a character named Janet Sandison. This name was her mother's maiden name. The books follow Janet's life from the time of World War I through the 1960s. They show the people she meets and how her childhood on a farm influenced her life. These stories were very much based on Jane Duncan's own experiences.
The Camerons Series
Jane also wrote five books for children called the "Camerons" series. These books were inspired by her own niece and nephews. They are special because they include a main character named young Iain who has learning difficulties. This was one of the first times a character with Down syndrome was featured in a children's novel.
One of her "Camerons" books, Camerons on the Train, was made into a film called The Camerons in 1974.
Reprints
To celebrate 100 years since Jane Duncan's birth, her book My Friends the Miss Boyds was re-published in 2010.
See also
- Children's Film Foundation filmography
- Neil Miller Gunn
