Norah Lofts facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Norah Ethel Robinson Lofts Jorisch
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Norah Ethel Robinson
27 August 1904 Shipdham, Norfolk, England
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| Died | 10 September 1983 (aged 79) Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, England
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| Nationality | British |
| Other names | Norah Lofts, Peter Curtis, Juliet Astley |
| Occupation | Writer, novelist |
| Years active | 1936-1983 |
| Spouse(s) | Geoffrey Lofts (1931-1948), Robert Jorisch (1949-1983) |
Norah Lofts, born Norah Ethel Robinson, (August 27, 1904 – September 10, 1983) was a British writer from the 20th century. She wrote over fifty books. She was famous for her historical fiction novels, which are stories set in the past. She also wrote mystery books and short stories. Norah Lofts used different names for her books, like Peter Curtis and Juliet Astley. Many of her novels, especially her Suffolk Trilogy, tell the stories of old houses and the families who lived in them over many years.
Contents
Norah Lofts' Early Life and Family
Norah Ethel Robinson was born in Shipdham, Norfolk, England. Her parents were Isaac Robinson and Ethel Garner. She grew up in Bury St Edmunds, where she went to school. She studied at Guildhall Feoffment Girls School and the County Grammar School for Girls. In 1925, she earned a teaching diploma from Norwich Training College. This meant she could become a teacher.
Norah married Geoffrey Lofts in 1931. They had one son named Clive. Sadly, Geoffrey passed away in 1948. In 1949, Norah married her second husband, Robert Jorisch. He worked as a technical consultant for the British Sugar Corporation. Norah Lofts also served as a Town Councillor for Bury St Edmunds from 1957 to 1962. She passed away in Bury St Edmunds in 1983.
Norah Lofts' Writing Career
Norah Lofts wrote many different kinds of books. She chose to use the pen name Peter Curtis for her murder-mystery novels. She did this so that readers who loved her historical fiction would not expect the same kind of story from her mysteries. However, her mystery books still had some of her unique writing style.
Types of Novels Norah Lofts Wrote
Most of Norah Lofts' historical novels fit into two main groups:
- Biographical Novels: These books told the life stories of famous queens, such as Anne Boleyn, Isabella I of Castile, and Catherine of Aragon.
- East Anglia Novels: These stories were set in a made-up town called Baildon in East Anglia, England. This town was much like Bury St. Edmunds, where she lived. Her books set in this area often showed concern for people who were very poor in society. They also explored how hard it was for these people to improve their lives.
Norah Lofts was brave enough to write about difficult subjects. For example, in her book How Far to Bethlehem?, she told the story of the nativity of Jesus. She included backstories for Mary, Joseph, the Magi, the shepherds, and even the innkeeper. She also wrote about the difficult Donner Party expedition in Road to Revelation (also known as Winter Harvest).
Norah Lofts' Books on Screen
Several of Norah Lofts' novels were made into films:
- Jassy became the film Jassy (1947), starring Margaret Lockwood.
- You're Best Alone was made into Guilt Is My Shadow (1950).
- The Devil's Own (also called The Little Wax Doll) became The Witches (1966).
- The film 7 Women (1966), directed by John Ford, was loosely based on her story "Chinese Finale."
Today, Norah Lofts' books still have many dedicated readers around the world.
Awards and Recognition
In the United States, Norah Lofts won a special award for her book I Met a Gypsy. Members of the American Booksellers Association voted for it. Her collection was called the "forgotten book" of 1936 that "least deserved to be forgotten." This award was later known as the Bookseller Discovery. Alfred Knopf, a famous publisher, represented her at the award ceremony.
