P. D. James facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
The Baroness James of Holland Park
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James in 2013
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| Born | Phyllis Dorothy James 3 August 1920 Oxford, England |
| Died | 27 November 2014 (aged 94) Oxford, England |
| Pen name | P. D. James |
| Occupation | Novelist |
| Genre |
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| Spouse |
Ernest Connor Bantry White
(m. 1941; |
| Children | 2 |
Phyllis Dorothy James, also known as P. D. James, was a famous English writer. She was born on August 3, 1920, and passed away on November 27, 2014. She became very well-known for her detective novels. Her most famous books feature a police commander and poet named Adam Dalgliesh. She was also a life peer, which means she was given a special title and could be part of the House of Lords in the UK government.
Contents
Life and Writing Career
Phyllis Dorothy James was born in Oxford, England. Her father was a tax inspector. She went to school at the British School in Ludlow and Cambridge High School for Girls. When she was a teenager, her mother became ill.
Because her family didn't have much money, and her father didn't think girls needed a higher education, James left school at 16. She started working to help care for her younger brother and sister. She worked in a tax office for three years. Later, she became an assistant stage manager at a theatre in Cambridge.
In 1941, she married Ernest Connor Bantry White, who was an army doctor. They had two daughters, Clare and Jane. After the Second World War, her husband faced serious health challenges and needed care. To support her family, James studied hospital administration. From 1949 to 1968, she worked for a hospital board in London.
She started writing in the mid-1950s, using her maiden name, P. D. James. Her first novel, Cover Her Face, was published in 1962. This book introduced her famous detective, Adam Dalgliesh. Many of her mystery novels are set in places like the criminal justice system or the National Health Service. These were places she knew well from her own work.
After her husband passed away in 1964, James decided to make a change in her career. She joined the Home Civil Service, which is part of the government. She worked in different parts of the Home Office, including the criminal section, until she retired in 1979.
In 1991, James was given the special title of Baroness James of Holland Park. This meant she became a life peer and could sit in the House of Lords. She was part of the Conservative group there. She was also a member of the Anglican church.
Her later novels often took place in small, closed communities. These included a publishing house, a theological college, or an island. In 2009, she published Talking About Detective Fiction, a book about detective stories. She also wrote many essays and short stories. In 2011, she said that The Private Patient would be her last Adam Dalgliesh novel.
In 2009, James was a guest editor for the BBC Radio 4 show Today. She interviewed the head of the BBC, Mark Thompson. In 2008, she was added to the International Crime Writing Hall of Fame.
In 2014, James was one of 200 public figures who signed a letter opposing Scottish independence. This was before a vote on the issue.
P. D. James lived in Holland Park Avenue in London, which is where her title came from. She also had homes in Oxford and Southwold. She passed away at her home in Oxford in 2014, at the age of 94. She was survived by her two daughters, five grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren.
Books by P. D. James
Adam Dalgliesh Mysteries
Cordelia Gray Mysteries
Other Novels
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Short Stories
Non-Fiction Books
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Books on Screen
Many of P. D. James's books have been made into TV shows and movies.
Adam Dalgliesh TV Series
- Death of an Expert Witness (1983)
- Shroud for a Nightingale (1984)
- Cover Her Face (1985)
- The Black Tower (1985)
- A Taste For Death (1988)
- Devices and Desires (1991)
- Unnatural Causes (1993)
- A Mind to Murder (1995)
- Original Sin (1997)
- A Certain Justice (1998)
- Death in Holy Orders (2003)
- The Murder Room (2004)
- Dalgliesh (2021)
The character of Adam Dalgliesh has been played by different actors. Roy Marsden played him in the 1980s TV shows. Later, Martin Shaw and Bertie Carvel also played Dalgliesh in other adaptations.
Other Adaptations
- An Unsuitable Job for a Woman (1982, 1997–2001)
- Children of Men (2006 film): This movie was based on her novel The Children of Men. Even though the movie changed some things from the book, P. D. James liked it a lot.
- Death Comes to Pemberley (2013 TV series): This show was based on her novel of the same name. It was shown on BBC One.
Awards and Special Recognitions
P. D. James received many awards and honours for her writing and public service.
Honours
- Officer of the Order of the British Empire (1983): This is a special award given by the King or Queen for great achievements.
- Baroness James of Holland Park (1991): She was given a life peerage, which meant she could be a member of the House of Lords for her lifetime.
- Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature
- Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts
- President of the Society of Authors (1997–2013)
She also received many honorary doctorates from universities. This means universities gave her special degrees to recognize her achievements, even though she didn't study there. She also received honorary fellowships from colleges.
Awards for Her Books
- Mystery Writers of America Best Novel Award (runner-up): Shroud for a Nightingale (1971) and An Unsuitable Job for a Woman (1973)
- Crime Writers' Association (CWA) Macallan Silver Dagger for Fiction: Shroud for a Nightingale (1972) and The Black Tower (1976)
- CWA Macallan Silver Dagger for Fiction: A Taste for Death (1987)
- CWA Cartier Diamond Dagger (1987): This is a special award for a writer's lifetime achievements in crime writing.
- Deo Gloria Award: The Children of Men (1992)
- Grandmaster Award, Mystery Writers of America (1999)
- Best Critical Nonfiction Anthony Award for Talking About Detective Fiction (2010)
- Nick Clarke Award (2010)
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See also
In Spanish: P. D. James para niños
