Jennifer Johnston (novelist) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jennifer Johnston
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| Born | Jennifer Prudence Johnston 12 January 1930 Dublin, Ireland |
| Died | 25 February 2025 (aged 95) Dún Laoghaire, Ireland |
| Occupation | Novelist |
| Alma mater | Trinity College Dublin |
| Spouse | Ian Smyth (m. 1951-?); 4 children David Gilliland (his death) |
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Jennifer Prudence Johnston (born January 12, 1930 – died February 25, 2025) was a famous Irish writer. She wrote many novels and plays. Jennifer Johnston won several important awards for her books. These included the Whitbread Book Award in 1979 for her novel The Old Jest. She also received a special Lifetime Achievement Award from the Irish Book Awards in 2012.
The Old Jest was a book about the Irish War of Independence. It was later made into a movie called The Dawning. This film starred famous actor Anthony Hopkins.
Contents
About Jennifer Johnston
Jennifer Johnston was born in Dublin, Ireland, on January 12, 1930. Her mother, Shelah Richards, was an Irish actress and director. Her father, Denis Johnston, was an Irish playwright. A playwright is someone who writes plays.
Jennifer went to Trinity College Dublin, a well-known university. She finished her studies in 1965. She earned a degree in ancient and modern literature. This means she studied old and new stories and writings.
Many of her novels talk about the changes in Protestant families in Ireland during the 1900s. These families were often called the Anglo-Irish ascendancy. Jennifer Johnston was also a member of Aosdána, a group that honors Irish artists.
Awards and Special Honors
Jennifer Johnston received many awards for her writing. Here are some of them:
- 1973: She won the Authors' Club First Novel Award for her book The Captains and the Kings.
- 1977: Her novel Shadows on our Skin was chosen for the shortlist of the Booker Prize. This is a very important award for books.
- 1979: She won the Whitbread Book Award for The Old Jest.
- 1989: She received the Giles Cooper Awards for her play O Ananias, Azarias and Misael.
- 2001: She became an Honorary Fellow of Trinity College Dublin. This is a special title given by the university.
- 2006: She won the Irish PEN Award.
- 2009: She was chosen as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature.
- 2012: She received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Irish Book Awards. This award honored all her work over many years.
Her Life and Family
Jennifer Johnston was married two times. In 1951, she married Ian Smyth. He was also a student at Trinity College. They had four children together: Patrick, Sarah, Lucy, and Malachy.
Later, she married her second husband, David Gilliland. They lived in Derry, a city in Ireland. After David passed away, Jennifer moved back to Dublin. Her cousins, Susan Fitzgerald and Tara Fitzgerald, were also actresses.
Jennifer Johnston passed away on February 25, 2025. She was 95 years old. She died in a nursing home in Dún Laoghaire, Ireland. Many people shared their sadness and respect for her. The President of Ireland, Michael D Higgins, said that her novels and plays explored important ideas. He said she looked deeply at identity, family, and connections during the changing times in Ireland in the 20th century.
Her Books and Plays
Jennifer Johnston wrote many novels and plays. Here is a list of some of her most well-known works:
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 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 was one of the writers who contributed to this book)
- The Essential Jennifer Johnston (1999) (This book included three of her earlier novels)
- Great Irish Stories of Murder and Mystery (2000) (She contributed to this collection)
- This is not a Novel (2002)
- Grace and Truth (2005)
- Shadow Story (2012)
- A Sixpenny Song (2013)
- Naming the Stars (2015)
Plays
- The Nightingale and Not the Lark (1981)
- Andante un Poco Mosso (first performed in 1981)
- Indian Summer (1984)
- The Porch (1986)
- The Invisible Man (1987)
- O Ananias, Azarias and Misael (1989)
- Triptych (1989)
- Twinkletoes (1993)
- Moonlight and Music (2000)
- Waiting (2006)
- The Christmas Tree: A Play in Two Acts (2015)
See also
- List of winners and shortlisted authors of the Booker Prize for Fiction
