Jennifer Johnston (novelist) facts for kids

Jennifer Johnston (born January 12, 1930 – died February 25, 2025) was a famous Irish writer. She wrote many novels and plays. Jennifer won several important awards for her books. One of her most well-known books, The Old Jest, even became a movie called The Dawning. This film starred famous actors like Anthony Hopkins.

Life and Writing Career

Jennifer Johnston was born in Dublin, Ireland, on January 12, 1930. Her mother, Shelah Richards, was an actress and director. Her father, Denis Johnston, was a playwright who wrote plays for the theater.

Early Life and Education

Jennifer came from a family of artists. She was a cousin to the well-known actress Geraldine Fitzgerald. Jennifer went to Trinity College Dublin, a famous university. She studied ancient and modern literature there and graduated in 1965.

Family and Home Life

Jennifer married a fellow student, Ian Smyth, in 1951. Later, she married David Gilliland. For a time, she lived in Derry, a city in Northern Ireland. After David passed away, she moved back to Dublin. She had other famous cousins too, like actresses Tara Fitzgerald and Susan Fitzgerald.

Her Unique Stories

Jennifer Johnston was born into the Church of Ireland. Many of her novels explore the lives of Protestant families in Ireland during the 20th century. She often wrote about how their way of life was changing. Her stories often looked at important ideas like identity, family, and how people connect with each other. She showed these ideas through the exciting events of 20th-century Irish history.

A Lasting Legacy

Jennifer Johnston lived a long life and passed away in 2025 at the age of 95. The President of Ireland, Michael D Higgins, spoke about her importance. He said that her books and plays offered a "deep and meaningful examination" of life. Her work continues to be read and enjoyed by many.

Awards and Special Honours

Jennifer Johnston received many awards for her writing. These awards recognized her talent and her important contributions to literature.

• 2012: Irish Book Awards Lifetime Achievement Award (This award honored her entire career.)
• 2006: Irish PEN Award
• 2001: Honorary Fellow of Trinity College Dublin (This means her old university recognized her as a special member.)
• 1989: Giles Cooper Awards for her play O Ananias, Azarias and Misael
• 1979: Whitbread Book Award for her novel The Old Jest
• 1977: Her novel Shadows on our Skin was shortlisted for the Booker Prize. This is a very important literary award.
• 1973: Authors' Club First Novel Award for The Captains and the Kings

List of Her Works

Jennifer Johnston wrote many novels and plays throughout her career.

Novels

• The Captains and the Kings (1972)
• The Gates (1973)
• How Many Miles to Babylon? (1974)
• Shadows on Our Skin (1977)
• The Old Jest (1979)
• The Nightingale and Not the Lark (1980)
• The Christmas Tree (1981)
• The Railway Station Man (1984)
• The Invisible Worm (1991)
• The Illusionist (1995)
• Three Monologues: "Twinkletoes", "Mustn't Forget High Noon", "Christine" (1995)
• Finbar's Hotel (1997) (She contributed to this book.)
• The Essential Jennifer Johnston (1999) (This book contains three of her earlier novels.)
• Great Irish Stories of Murder and Mystery (2000) (She contributed to this collection.)
• Mondschatten (2000)
• This is not a Novel (2002)
• Grace and Truth (2005)
• Shadowstory (2011)
• Fathers and Son (2012)
• A Sixpenny Song (2013)
• Naming the Stars (2015)

Plays

• The Nightingale and Not the Lark (1981)
• Indian Summer (1983)
• Andante un Poco Mosso (1983)
• The Porch (1986)
• O Ananias, Azarias and Misael (1989)
• The Christmas Tree: A Play in Two Acts (2015)
• Moonlight and Music

See also

• List of winners and shortlisted authors of the Booker Prize for Fiction