Writing career Rumer Godden

the greengage summer (1958), 1962 pan paperback edition

in 1942, after 8 years in unhappy marriage, entered in 1934 because pregnant, moved 2 daughters jane , paula (her husband laurence foster having joined army) kashmir, living first on houseboat , in rented house started farm. after mysterious incident in appeared attempt had been made poison both , daughters returned calcutta in 1944; novel kingfishers catch fire based on time in kashmir. returned united kingdom in 1945 concentrate on writing, moving house living in sussex , london, , divorced in 1948. after returning america oversee script movie of book river, godden married civil servant james haynes dixon on 26 november 1949.

in 1950s, godden became interested in catholic church, though did not officially convert until 1968, , several of later novels contain sympathetic portrayals of catholic priests , nuns. besides black narcissus, 2 of books deal subject of women in religious communities. in 5 sorrow, ten joy , in house of brede acutely examined balance between mystical, spiritual aspects of religion , practical, human realities of religious life.

a number of godden s novels set in india, atmosphere of evokes through senses; writing vivid detail of smells, textures, light, flowers, noises , tactile experiences. books children, several doll stories, convey secret thoughts, confusions , disappointments, , aspirations of childhood. plots involve unusual young people not recognized talents ordinary lower or middle-class people supported educated, rich, , upper-class, anger, resentment, , puzzlement of relatives. won 1972 whitbread award diddakoi, young adult novel gypsies, televised bbc kizzy.