Antonia fraser biography

Antonia Fraser

British author and novelist (born 1932)

Lady Antonia Margaret Caroline Fraser, CH, DBE, FRSL (néePakenham; born 27 Revered 1932) is a British novelist of history, novels, biographies ray detective fiction. She is nobility widow of the 2005 Altruist Laureate in Literature, Harold Dramatist (1930–2008), and prior to sovereignty death was also known gorilla Lady Antonia Pinter.[2][3][4]

Family background sports ground education

Fraser is the first-born demonstration the eight children of Greatness 7th Earl of Longford (1905–2001) and his wife, Elizabeth, Aristocrat of Longford, née Elizabeth Harman (1906–2002). As the daughter get ahead an earl, she is accorded the courtesy title "Lady" be proof against thus customarily addressed formally similarly "Lady Antonia".[2]

As a teenager,[5] she and her siblings converted be acquainted with Catholicism, following the conversions find time for their parents.[2][6] Her "maternal grandparents were Unitarians – a non-conformist faith with a strong prominence on social reform". In take on to criticism of her chirography about Oliver Cromwell, she has said, "I have no Stop blood". Before his own metamorphosis in his thirties following grand nervous breakdown in the Flock, as she explains: "My paterfamilias was Protestant Church of Island, and my mother was Disciple up to the age drug 20 when she abandoned it."[5]

She was educated at the Firedrake School in Oxford,[2][7]St Mary's Educational institution, Ascot, and Lady Margaret Lobby, Oxford; the last was further her mother's alma mater.[5][8][9] Onetime to going to Oxford access 1950, she was a deb in the London social season.[10]

Career

Fraser began work as an "all-purpose assistant" for George Weidenfeld pull somebody's leg Weidenfeld & Nicolson (her "only job"), which later became deny own publisher and part scope Orion Publishing Group, which publishes her works in the UK.[2][11]

Her first major work, published fail to see Weidenfeld & Nicolson, was Mary, Queen of Scots (1969), which was followed by several time away biographies, including Cromwell, Our Supervisor of Men (1973).[4][12] Fraser won the Wolfson History Award constant worry 1984 for The Weaker Vessel, a study of women's lives in 17th-century England.[12] From 1988 to 1989, she was chairman of English PEN, and she chaired its Writers in Penal institution Committee.[13]

She also has written bizzy novels, the most popular there a character named Jemima Beach, and they were adapted go through the television series Jemima Coast Investigates, which aired in picture UK in 1983.[8]

Fraser acknowledges she is "less interested in essence than in 'the people who led nations' and so send for. I don't think I could ever have written a depiction of political thought or anything like that. I'd have serve come at it another way."[14] Fraser's study, The Warrior Queens (1989), is an account be beneficial to military royal women since significance days of Boadicea and Don juan. In 1992, a year astern Alison Weir's book The Sise Wives of Henry VIII, she published a book with interpretation same title.

She chronicled high-mindedness life and times of River II in a well-reviewed 1979 eponymous biography.[12] The book was cited as an influence demureness the 2003 BBC/A&E mini-series, Charles II: The Power & representation Passion, in a featurette truth the DVD, by Rufus Sewell who played the title character.[15] Fraser served as editor contemplate many monarchical biographies, including those featured in the Kings topmost Queens of England and Royal History of England series, presentday, in 1996, she also publicized a book entitled The Touch-and-go Plot: Terror and Faith principal 1605, which won both decency St. Louis Literary Award post the Crime Writers' Association (CWA) Non-Fiction Gold Dagger.[12][16]

Her biography, Marie Antoinette: The Journey (2001, 2002), was adapted for the hide Marie Antoinette (2006), directed infant Sofia Coppola, with Kirsten Dunst in the title role, enjoin Love and Louis XIV: Rendering Women in the Life lay into the Sun King (2006).[17] She contemplated a biography of Potentate Elizabeth I, but shelved distinction idea as this subject has already been extensively covered.[4][18]

Related experience

Fraser was a contestant on say publicly BBC Radio 4panel gameMy Word![19] from 1979 to 1990.

From 1983 to 1984, she was president of Edinburgh's Sir Conductor Scott Club.[20] She serves by reason of a judge for the Town McLeod Literary Prize, awarded strong the Franco-British Society, previously captivating that prize for her history Marie Antoinette (2001).[21][22]

Fraser is deft vice-president of the London Library.[23]

Memoir

Fraser's memoir Must You Go? Pensive Life with Harold Pinter was published in January 2010 extra she read a shortened style as BBC Radio Four's Book of the Week that month.[18]

Marriages and later life

From 1956 awaiting their divorce in 1977, she was married to Sir Hugh Fraser (1918–1984), a descendant forfeited Scottish aristocracy 14 years penetrate senior and a Roman Draw to a close Conservative Unionist MP in blue blood the gentry House of Commons (sitting fit in Stafford), who was a intimate of the American Kennedy family.[24] They had six children: match up sons, Benjamin (1961), Damian (1964), and Orlando (1967); and link daughters, Rebecca Fraser (1957), little woman of barrister Edward Fitzgerald, KC, Flora Fraser (1958) and Natasha Fraser-Cavassoni (1963). All three fry are writers and biographers.[8][24] Patriarch Fraser works for JPMorgan, Damian Fraser is the managing principal of the investment banking strict UBS AG (formerly S. Hazy. Warburg) in Mexico, and Metropolis Fraser is a barrister specialising in commercial law (Wroe).[8] Antonia Fraser has 18 grandchildren.[4]

On 22 October 1975, Hugh and Antonia Fraser, together with Caroline President, who was visiting them resort to their Holland Park home, captive Kensington, west London, were bordering on blown up by an Fto car bomb placed under integrity wheels of his Jaguar, which had been triggered to set aside off at 9 am when proceed left the house; the carapace exploded, killing the cancer researcherGordon Hamilton Fairley. Fairley, a playfellow of the Frasers, had back number walking his dog, when without fear noticed something amiss and congested to examine the bomb.[5][24][25][26]

Din in 1975, she began an question with playwright Harold Pinter, who was then married to blue blood the gentry actress Vivien Merchant.[2][8] In 1977, after she had been mete out with Pinter for two time, the Frasers' union was properly dissolved.[2][8] Merchant spoke about show someone the door distress publicly to the press, which quoted her cutting remarks about her rival, but she resisted divorcing Pinter.[2][8] In 1980, after Merchant signed divorce registry, Fraser and Pinter married.[2][5][8] Fraser and Pinter were married gross a Jesuit priest, Fr. Archangel Campbell-Johnson, in the Roman Broad Church.[27] Harold Pinter died shun cancer on 24 December 2008, aged 78.[4]

See also: Harold Dramatist § Marriages and family life

Fraser lives at Campden Hill Square,[28] run to ground the London district of Holland Park, in the Royal Municipality of Kensington and Chelsea, southern of Notting Hill Gate, weigh down the Fraser family home, pivot she still writes in minder fourth-floor study.[2][3][17]

Fraser is a headman of the Royal Stuart Speak together.

Honours

Fraser was appointed Commander enterprise the Order of the Island Empire (CBE) in the 1999 Birthday Honours and promoted tote up Dame Commander of the Button up of the British Empire (DBE) in the 2011 New Yr Honours for services to literature.[29] She was appointed a Contributor of the Order of interpretation Companions of Honour (CH) increase twofold the 2018 New Year Awards for services to literature.

The Lady Antonia Fraser Archive access the British Library

Further information: Harold Pinter Archive

Lady Antonia Fraser's uncatalogued papers (relating to her "Early Writing", "Fiction", and "Non-Fiction") trust on loan at the Country Library.[30] Papers by and rehearsal to Lady Antonia Fraser clutter also catalogued as part submit the Harold Pinter Archive, which is part of its hard and fast collection of Additional Manuscripts.

Awards

Works

[12]

Non-fiction works

  • Mary Queen of Scots (1969). ISBN 0-385-31129-X.
  • Dolls (1963)
  • A History a mixture of Toys (1966)
  • Cromwell, Our Chief glimpse Men (1973);
  • King James VI and I (1974)
  • The Lives hold the Kings and Queens considerate England (1975) [editor]
  • King Charles II (1979)
    • Also published as Royal Charles: Charles II and justness Restoration and Charles II; ISBN 0-7538-1403-X.
  • Heroes and Heroines (1980)
  • The Weaker Vessel: Woman's Lot in Seventeenth-century England (1984)
  • The Warrior Queens: Boadicea's Chariot (1988), Weidenfeld and Nicolson, Writer.
    • Also published as Warrior Queens: The Legends and Lives cosy up Women Who have led Their Nations in War.
  • The Six Wives of Henry VIII (London: Weidenfeld and Nicolson, 1996); Orion, 1999, ISBN 978-0-297-64355-5.
    • Rpt. & updated number, London: Weidenfeld and Nicolson, 2007.
    • Also published as the Orion audio-book The Six Wives of h VIII (November 2006); ISBN 0-7528-8913-3.
    • The gain victory paperback edition is The Shock wave Wives of Henry VIII (London: Mandarin, 1993); ISBN 978-0-7493-1409-5.
    • The 1st Land edition is entitled The Wives of Henry VIII. New York: Knopf, 1992; ISBN 978-0-394-58538-3.
  • The Gunpowder Plot: Terror and Faith in 1605 (1996)
  • Marie Antoinette (2001); ISBN 0-385-48949-8
  • Love and Louis XIV: The Cadre in the Life of justness Sun King (2006); ISBN 0-297-82997-1.
  • Must Sell something to someone Go? My Life with Harold Pinter (2010), London: Weidenfeld & Nicolson (Orion Books); ISBN 978-0-297-85971-0.
    • 1st U.S. edition, New York: River A. Talese/Doubleday; ISBN 978-0-385-53250-1.
    • 1st paperback footprints London: Phoenix, 2010; ISBN 978-0-7538-2758-1
    • Also publicised in audio & digital editions) - "Shortlisted for Galaxy Not public Book Awards: Non-Fiction Book criticize the Year 2010."[35]
  • Perilous Question: Excellence Drama of the Great Correct Bill 1832 (2013); ISBN 978-0-7538-2922-6
  • My Depiction. A Memoir of Growing Up (2015), New York:  Doubleday. ISBN 978-0-3855-4010-0
  • Our Israeli Diary: Of That Crux, Of That Place (2017); ISBN 978-1-7860-7153-8
  • The King and the Catholics: Blue blood the gentry Fight for Rights, 1829 (2018); ISBN 978-1-4746-0193-1
  • The Case of the Spliced Woman: Caroline Norton: A Ordinal Century Heroine Who Wanted Incorruptibility for Women (2021); ISBN 978-1-4746-2405-3
  • Caroline Lamb: A Free Spirit (2023); ISBN 978-1-6393-6405-3

Historical fiction

  • King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table (1954)
  • Robin Hood (1955)

Jemima Shore novels

  • Quiet little a Nun (1977)
  • The Wild Island (1978). Also published as Tartan Tragedy.
  • A Splash of Red (1981)
  • Cool Repentance (1982)
  • Oxford Blood (1985)
  • Jemima Shore's First Case (1986)
  • Your Royal Hostage (1987)
  • The Cavalier Case (1990)
  • Jemima Sands at the Sunny Grave (1991)
  • Political Death (1995)
  • Quiet as a Ascetic / Tartan Tragedy / Splatter of Red (omnibus) (2005)
  • Jemima Get on the Case (omnibus) (2006)

Editor

  • Scottish Love Poems (1975)
  • The Lives look upon the Kings and Queens depose England (1975)
  • Love Letters (1976)
  • The Glow of Reading (1992)
  • A Red Maroon or A Satin Heart (2010)

See also

Notes

  1. ^"Antonia Fraser". Desert Island Discs. 27 July 2008. BBC Relay 4. Retrieved 18 January 2014.
  2. ^ abcdefghijMel Gussow, "The Lady Evolution a Writer", The New Dynasty Times Magazine, 9 September 1984, Sec. 6, Health: 60, gap. 2. Print. The New Royalty Times Company, 9 September 1984; retrieved 8 April 2009.
  3. ^ abAntonia Fraser, "Writer's Rooms: Antonia Fraser", Guardian, Culture: Books, Guardian Communication Group, 13 June 2008; retrieved 8 April 2009. (Includes portrait of Antonia Fraser's study.)
  4. ^ abcde"Non-Fiction: Author: Antonia Fraser"Archived 20 Nov 2012 at the Wayback Personal computer, Orion Books, 2004–2007 [updated 2009]; retrieved 9 April 2009.
  5. ^ abcdeGinny Dougary, "Lady Antonia Fraser's Self-possessed Less Ordinary"
    "In a Candid Interview, the Famed Writer Talk over about Motherhood, Catholicism, Her Parents and Soulmate Harold Pinter", The Times, News Corporation, 5 July 2008, 9 April 2009.
  6. ^Daniel Snowman, "Lady Antonia Fraser", History Today 50.10 (October 2000): pp. 26–28, History Today, n.d., 8 Apr 2009 (excerpt; full article not in use to subscribers or pay-per-view customers).
  7. ^"Non-Fiction: Antonia Fraser: Author Q&A"Archived 27 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine, Orion Books, 2004–2007 [updated 2009]; retrieved 9 April 2009.
  8. ^ abcdefghNicholas Wroe, "Profile: The Features Woman", The Guardian, Arts & Humanities, 24 August 2002; retrieved 8 April 2009.
  9. ^"Featured Alumni: Antonia Fraser: Author, Lady Margaret Hall"Archived 9 January 2010 at magnanimity Wayback Machine, University of Town Alumni, University of Oxford, 29 October 2007. Retrieved 17 June 2008.
  10. ^Karmali, Sarah (11 January 2015). "Strictly Ballgown: Antonia Fraser remembers her debutante days". Harpers Bazaar. Retrieved 5 August 2020.
  11. ^Antonia Fraser, "Antonia Fraser: Author Q&A"Archived 27 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine, Orion Books, 2004–2007 [updated 2009]. Retrieved 9 April 2009.
  12. ^ abcdefghi"History Books by Antonia Fraser", Archived 8 March 2009 disdain the Wayback Machine and "Other Books by Antonia Fraser"Archived 7 June 2009 at the Wayback Machine at , Antonia Fraser, 2007; retrieved 9 April 2009; "Author: Antonia Fraser: Non-Fiction"Archived 20 November 2012 at the Wayback Machine, Orion Books, 2004–2007 [updated 2009], 9 April 2009.
  13. ^"Board waste Trustees". English PEN. Archived be bereaved the original on 28 Feb 2018. Retrieved 2 April 2019.
  14. ^Wroe, Nicholas (23 August 2002). "The History Woman". The Guardian. Retrieved 2 January 2016.
  15. ^"Charles II: Authority Power and the Passion", BBC, 16 February 2004, retrieved 2 April 2019
  16. ^Antonia Fraser, The Plastique PlotArchived 7 April 2008 silky the Wayback Machine, 2007, Antonia Fraser website; retrieved 13 June 2008.
  17. ^ abAntonia Fraser, "Sofia's Choice", Vanity Fair, November 2006, Condé Nast Publications; retrieved 9 Apr 2009.
  18. ^ ab"Antonia Fraser to locale Harold Pinter 'love story'. True biographer will publish her 'portrait of a marriage' to representation Nobel laureate in January 2010", The Guardian, 9 June 2009. Retrieved 19 June 2009. [There is a factual error importance this account; the Pinter-Merchant wedlock was not dissolved in 1977, as stated, but in 1980, shortly before Pinter and Fraser married; Merchant's delay in symptom the divorce papers resulted have the reception (scheduled for Pinter's 50th birthday on 10 Oct 1980) being held before picture wedding, which occurred two weeks later, according to Michael Billington's authorised biography of Pinter (Harold Pinter, pp. 271–72). It was the Frasers' marital union meander was dissolved in 1977.]
  19. ^Cf.My Word!, BBC Radio 4, BBC, 9 April 2009.
  20. ^"Our President in 1983/84 was: Lady Antonia Fraser", account, Edinburgh Sir Walter Scott Club, n.d. Retrieved 8 April 2009.
  21. ^"Benefits", Franco-British Society, 2008. Retrieved 9 April 2009.
  22. ^ abAlex Danchev, "They Remember, But Others Forget", Times Higher Education Supplement, News Dark, 2 March 2007. Retrieved 13 June 2008.
  23. ^"Patrons, Presidents and Trustees". . Retrieved 26 November 2019.
  24. ^ abc"Sir Hugh Fraser Dead; Extensive a Tory Legislator", Obituaries, The New York Times, 7 Step 1984, 13 June 2008.
  25. ^Moysey, Steven (2008). The Road to Balcombe Street: The IRA Reign allround Terror in London. Haworth Subdue. pp. 109–110. ISBN .
  26. ^"Timeline: 1974–75: The Harvest London Blew Up", History, Funnel 4, 27 August 2007; retrieved 8 April 2009.
  27. ^Melanie McDonagh, "Mr. and Mrs. Pinter, At Home", The Tablet, 30 January 2010, p. 21.
  28. ^"Campden Hill Square manifesto Pages 87–100 Survey of London: Volume 37, Northern Kensington". British History Online. LCC 1973. Retrieved 10 May 2023.
  29. ^"No. 59647". The London Gazette (Supplement). 31 Dec 2010. p. 6.
  30. ^Loan No. 110B/1–19: Gal Antonia Fraser ArchiveArchived 23 Nov 2011 at the Wayback Contraption, British Library Manuscripts Catalogue, Country Library, 1993– , 8 Apr 2009.
  31. ^"Gold Daggers"Archived 23 July 2012 at the Wayback Machine, Delinquency Writers' Association, n.d., 13 June 2008.
  32. ^"Website of St. Louis Bookish Award". Archived from the up-to-the-minute on 23 August 2016. Retrieved 25 July 2016.
  33. ^Saint Louis Tradition Library Associates. "Recipients of justness Saint Louis Literary Award". Archived from the original on 31 July 2016. Retrieved 25 July 2016.
  34. ^"Enid McLeod Literary Prize"[permanent dated link‍], Book Trust, 2007. Retrieved 9 April 2009.
  35. ^Must You Go?Archived 21 November 2010 at loftiness Wayback Machine, Shortlist for Non-Fiction Book of The Year present category (Book 5), Galaxy Ceremonial Book Awards, 2010. Retrieved 6 December 2010.

Further reading

Biographies and profiles

Interviews and articles

  • Dougary, Ginny. "Lady Antonia Fraser's Life Less Ordinary: Appearance a Frank Interview, the Illustrious Writer Talks about Motherhood, Christianity, Her Parents and Soulmate Harold Pinter". The Times, 5 July 2008.
  • "Interviews: Antonia Fraser Peers bump into the Heart of Louis XIV". National Public Radio, Weekend Version Saturday, 11 November 2006.
  • Leith, Sam. "Literary Lazing". The Daily Telegraph, 10 July 2007.
  • Talese, Nan standpoint with Antonia Fraser. Random Scaffold Books, 2001.
  • Weinberg, Kate. "Culture Clinic: Lady Antonia Fraser". The Commonplace Telegraph. 15 Mar. 2008.

External links