Philippa Gregory
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Philippa Gregory (born 9 January 1954) is a British novelist, mainly associated with the historical fiction genre.
Contents |
[edit] Early life and academic career
Philippa Gregory was born in Kenya. When Gregory was two years old, her family moved to England. She was a "rebel" at school, but eventually decided to go to University and educated at the University of Sussex. She worked in BBC radio for two years before attending the University of Edinburgh, where she earned her doctorate in 18th century literature. She has taught at the University of Durham, Teeside Polytechnic, and the Open University. Gregory was made a Fellow of Kingston University in 1994.
[edit] Writing
Gregory's academic background has given her a knowledge and enthusiasm for many periods of history but particularly for the Tudor period and the 18th Century. Her research in 18th-century literature led her to write the bestselling Lacey trilogy - Wideacre, The Favoured Child and Meridon. This was followed by The Wise Woman, described as a dazzling, disturbing novel of dark powers and desires set against the rich tapestry of the Reformation. A Respectable Trade, a novel of slave trading in England, set in 18th century Bristol, was adapted by Gregory for an acclaimed four part drama series for BBC television. Gregory's script was nominated for a BAFTA, won an award from the Committee for Racial Equality, and the film was shown worldwide. Two novels about a gardening family at the heart of the English Civil war: Earthly Joys and Virgin Earth won her new fans, while her contemporary novels - two great comedies Mrs Hartley and the Growth Centre, and Perfectly Correct and two eerie thrillers The Little House and Zelda's Cut remain firm favourites with many readers. She has also written for children.
Gregory's novels have won awards and have been adapted into television dramas. The Other Boleyn Girl was published in 2002 and was adapted for the BBC. Also in 2002, she won the Parker Romantic Novel of the Year for The Other Boleyn Girl. Miramax bought the film rights to the book which was also a bestseller in the US, Australia, and New Zealand. Filmed in England in late 2006 starring Natalie Portman and Scarlett Johannsen it is due for release in the US in December 2007 and in the UK in January 2008 [1].
In 2003, The Queen's Fool followed and obtained bestseller status by staying in the Top 20 for twenty weeks and selling 50,000 copies in hardback in the UK. The Virgin's Lover was published in October 2004, which continued the Tudor story that intertwined fact and fiction.
[edit] Media
Gregory is a frequent contributor to magazines and newspapers, with short stories, features and reviews. She is also a frequent broadcaster and a regular contestant on Round Britain Quiz for BBC Radio 4 and the Tudor expert for Channel 4's Time Team.
[edit] Private life
She lives in the North of England with her husband and two children. Her interests include riding, walking, skiing, and gardening.
[edit] Charity work
Gregory also runs a small charity building wells in school gardens in The Gambia. Fifty-six wells have been built by UK donors to date.
[edit] Novels
- The Boleyn Inheritance (2006)
- The Constant Princess (2005)
- The Virgin's Lover (2005)
- The Queen's Fool (2004)
- The Other Boleyn Girl (2002)
- A Respectable Trade (1996)
- The Wise Woman
- Earthly Joys and its sequel, Virgin Earth
- Wideacre
