Janice Elliott facts for kids

Janice Elliott (born October 13, 1931 – died July 25, 1995) was a talented English writer. She wrote many books, including novels for grown-ups and stories for children. Her books were popular when they came out, but you might not find them in stores today.

About Janice Elliott's Life

Janice Elliott was born in Derby and grew up in Nottingham. Her father, Douglas John Elliott, worked in advertising. Her mother was Dorothy Wilson. Janice went to Nottingham Girls' High School. Later, she studied English at St. Anne's College at Oxford University.

From 1952 to 1962, Janice worked as a journalist. She wrote for magazines like House and Garden and the Sunday Times. After that, she became a full-time writer. She still wrote reviews for newspapers sometimes.

In 1959, she married Robert Cooper. He worked with oil and was also a sailor. They had one son. For many years, Janice lived in Partridge Green, Sussex. In the mid-1980s, she moved to Fowey, Cornwall, where she retired.

Janice Elliott received an award from Southern Arts in 1981. In 1989, she became a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature. This is a special honor for writers. She passed away in 1995.

Janice Elliott's Novels

Janice Elliott's first novel was called Cave with Echoes. It was published in 1962. Many people liked it, just like most of her later books. Another writer, Anthony Burgess, said her first book had great style and characters.

The Somnambulists (1964) was about a brother and sister. They felt alone after their parents died early. Secret Places (1981) was a story set in a girls' boarding school during World War II. The Country of Her Dreams (1982) took place in a city in the Balkans. This city was chosen to keep European art safe in a nuclear bunker.

Her book The Italian Lesson (1985) was published by Hodder & Stoughton. This company also published most of her speculative fiction. Speculative fiction includes stories that imagine different futures or worlds.

Janice Elliott also wrote two books for older children. These were The King Awakes (1987) and The Empty Throne (1988). They were illustrated by Grahame Baker. These books are part of an Arthurian series. This means they are about the legends of King Arthur. The two books were later reissued together as The Sword and the Dream.

Janice Elliott once said she tried to write in many different ways. She didn't want her books to fit into just one type of story. Because of this, her work included strange and magical tales, as well as stories about everyday life. She worked on her books very carefully. She wrote from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. every day. It usually took her about nine months to finish a novel. Even though her books were praised by critics, it was hard for her to earn enough money just from writing fiction.

Books Made into Films

One of Janice Elliott's novels, The Buttercup Chain (1967), was made into a movie in 1970. She even helped write the movie script! Her book Secret Places (1981) was also made into a film in 1984. This book was based on her own memories of growing up in Nottingham during wartime.

Published Works