Naomi Mitchison facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Naomi Mitchison
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Naomi Mitchison, photographed in about 1920
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| Born | Naomi Mary Margaret Haldane 1 November 1897 Edinburgh, Scotland |
| Died | 11 January 1999 (aged 101) Carradale, Scotland |
| Occupation | Biologist, nurse, writer |
| Language | English |
| Education | Society of Oxford Home Students |
| Period | 1914–15 |
| Genre | Historical, science fiction, travelogue and autobiography |
| Spouse | Gilbert Richard Mitchison |
| Children | Geoffrey Mitchison (1918–1927) Denis Mitchison (1919–2018) Murdoch Mitchison (1922–2011) Avrion Mitchison (born 1928) Lois Mitchison Valentine Mitchison Clemency Mitchison |
| Relatives | John Scott Haldane (father) J. B. S. Haldane (brother) |
Naomi Mary Margaret Mitchison (born Haldane; November 1, 1897 – January 11, 1999) was a well-known Scottish writer and poet. Many people called her the "doyenne" (a respected female leader) of Scottish literature. She wrote over 90 books, including historical stories, science fiction, travel books, and her own life story. She was honored with the CBE (Commander of the Order of the British Empire) in 1981. Her book The Corn King and the Spring Queen (1931) is thought by some to be one of the best historical novels of the 20th century.
Contents
Early Life and Interests
Naomi Mary Margaret Haldane was born in Edinburgh, Scotland. Her father, John Scott Haldane, was a famous scientist who studied how living things work (a physiologist). Her older brother was J.B.S. Haldane, also a well-known biologist.
Childhood and Family Background
Naomi's family was quite old and important in Scotland. Her father was a Liberal, and her mother came from a Conservative family. The Haldane family had been feudal barons of Gleneagles since the 1200s. Her uncle, Richard Burdon Haldane, 1st Viscount Haldane, was a very important politician. He was the Lord Chancellor twice.
Naomi went to the Dragon School in Oxford from 1904 to 1911. She was the only girl there! After that, she was taught at home. In 1914, she was accepted into the University of Oxford to study science.
Early Scientific Work
Like her father and brother, Naomi was interested in science. From 1908, she and her brother, J. B. S. Haldane, studied genetics. This is the study of how traits are passed down from parents to children. They first used guinea pigs for their experiments. Later, they switched to mice because they were easier to work with.
In 1915, they published their findings in a paper called "Reduplication in Mice." This paper was very important. It was the first time anyone showed "genetic linkage" in mammals. Genetic linkage means that certain genes are often inherited together because they are located close to each other on the same chromosome.
Becoming a Nurse
The First World War started while Naomi was at university. This changed her plans. She decided to become a nurse instead of finishing her science degree. In 1915, she completed a first aid course. She then joined a group called the Voluntary Aid Detachment at St Thomas's Hospital in London. However, she caught scarlet fever, which limited her time as a nurse.
Marriage and Family Life
On February 11, 1916, Naomi married Gilbert Richard Mitchison, who was a lawyer. He was a close friend of her brother. Gilbert was a soldier on leave from the war when they married. His family was also wealthy and well-connected.
Political Life and Children
Gilbert Mitchison became a successful lawyer and then a Labour politician. In 1964, he became a "life peer," which meant he was given the title Baron Mitchison. This made Naomi "Lady Mitchison," but she did not like to use the title. She was very involved in her husband's political work.
Naomi and Gilbert had seven children. Four were sons: Geoffrey (who died young from meningitis), Denis Mitchison (a professor who studied bacteria), Murdoch Mitchison and Avrion Mitchison (both professors who studied animals). They also had three daughters: Lois, Valentine, and Clemency (who died shortly after birth).
From 1923 to 1939, the family lived in London. In 1939, they bought Carradale House in Kintyre, Scotland. They lived there for the rest of their lives. Their home was always full of interesting people. Lords, politicians, writers, and local fishermen all visited. Naomi even wrote a documentary with a local fisherman called Men and Herring: A Documentary in 1949.
Literary Career
Naomi Mitchison was a very busy writer. She wrote more than 90 books during her life. These books covered many different styles and topics.
Historical Novels
She wrote many historical novels. Her first novel, The Conquered (1923), was set in ancient Gaul during the time of Julius Caesar. Her second novel, Cloud Cuckoo Land (1925), was set in Ancient Greece during the Peloponnesian War. Many people think her best work is The Corn King and the Spring Queen (1931). Critics have said she is one of the greatest historical novelists.
Writing for Young People
In 1932, a publisher asked Naomi to create a guide to the modern world for children. This book, An Outline for Boys and Girls and Their Parents, had contributions from other famous writers. It was praised by many newspapers. However, some religious leaders and conservative writers did not like the book. They felt it did not focus enough on Christianity and was too sympathetic to the Soviet Union. This caused the book not to sell well.
Other Writings
Naomi was always writing. She wrote travel books about her journeys. For example, she wrote about a trip to the US in the 1930s.
After her husband died, Naomi wrote several books about her own life. She was also a good friend of the famous writer J. R. R. Tolkien. She even helped proofread his famous book, The Lord of the Rings.
Later Life and Legacy
Naomi's husband, Gilbert, passed away in 1970. But Naomi continued to write even when she was in her nineties. She received the CBE honor in 1981.
In her old age, she worried a lot about the future. She was especially concerned about how science could be misused, like with nuclear weapons. She said that living through two world wars was too much. Naomi died at Carradale on January 11, 1999, when she was 101 years old. Her ashes were scattered there.
Honors and Recognitions
Naomi Mitchison received many awards and honors throughout her life:
- She received honorary doctorates from several universities in Scotland, including the University of Stirling (1976), the University of Dundee (1985), and Heriot-Watt University (1990).
- She also received a DLitt from the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow (1983).
- She was made an Honorary Fellow of St Anne's College, Oxford (1980) and Wolfson College (1983).
- She was appointed CBE (Commander, Order of the British Empire) in 1981.
- James D. Watson, who won a Nobel Prize for discovering the structure of DNA, wrote much of his famous book The Double Helix while staying with the Mitchisons. He dedicated the book to Naomi.
Published Works
Naomi Mitchison wrote many books across different genres. Here are some examples:
Autobiography
She wrote several books about her own life:
- Small Talk: Memoirs of an Edwardian Childhood (1973)
- All Change Here: Girlhood and Marriage (1975)
- Mucking Around (1981)
- Among You Taking Notes. The Wartime Diary of Naomi Mitchison (1986)
Novels
Her novels included historical fiction, science fiction, and stories for children:
- Cloud Cuckoo Land (1925)
- The Corn King and the Spring Queen (1931)
- Memoirs of a Spacewoman (1962)
- Cleopatra's People (1972)
- Solution Three (1975)
Collections
She also published collections of short stories and poems:
- When the Bough Breaks and Other Stories (1924)
- Five Men and a Swan (1957)
- Cleansing of the Knife: And Other Poems (1979)
Non-fiction
Her non-fiction works covered history, politics, and travel:
- Anna Comnena (1928; a biography)
- Vienna Diary (1934)
- African Heroes (1968)
See also
In Spanish: Naomi Mitchison para niños
