AndreaV955081450 at 01:09, 29 April 2026

2026-04-29T01:09:34Z

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{{Short description|British writer, born 1941}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Use British English|date=April 2017}}
{{Infobox author
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|9 August 1941}}
| honorific_suffix = {{post-nominals|country=GBR|MBE|FRSL|size=100%}}
| birth_place = [[Mussoorie]], British India
| notable_works = ''[[Coram Boy]]'' (2000)
| nationality = British
| occupation = Author
| awards = [[Whitbread Children's Book Award]] (2000)
}}

'''Jamila Gavin''' {{post-nominals|country=GBR|MBE|FRSL}} (born 9 August 1941) is a British writer who is known mainly for [[children's books]], including several with Indian contexts.

==Life==
{{BLP sources section|date=February 2025}}
Gavin was born on 9 August 1941 in Mussoorie in the [[United Provinces (1937–50)|United Provinces]] of India, in the present-day state of [[Uttarakhand]] in the [[Western Himalayas]].<ref name="literature.britishcouncil.org">{{Cite web |title=Jamila Gavin – Literature |url=https://literature.britishcouncil.org/writer/jamila-gavin |access-date=2023-06-02 |website=[[British Council]]}}</ref> Her Indian father and English mother had met as teachers in [[Iran]].<ref name=egmont/> She learned to describe herself as "half and half".{{Citation needed|date=June 2023}} She says online that from her mixed background "I inherited two rich cultures which ran side by side throughout my life, and which always made me feel I belonged to both countries."<ref>{{Cite news |date=2021-03-28 |title=About Me - Jamila Gavin |url=https://jamilagavin.com/about/ |access-date=2026-03-27 |work=Jamila Gavin |language=en-GB}}</ref>

Gavin first visited England when she was six and settled there when she was 11.{{Citation needed|date=June 2023}} As an adult she worked in the music department of the [[BBC]] before becoming a writer.{{Citation needed|date=June 2023}} She wrote her first book, ''The Magic Orange Tree and Other Stories'', in 1979. After her first child was born, she became aware that there were few children's books reflecting the experience of multi-racial children.{{Citation needed|date=June 2023}} She has also written books reflecting her childhood in India, particularly her Surya trilogy.{{Citation needed|date=June 2023}}

Gavin is a patron of the [[Shakespeare Schools Festival]], a charity that allows schoolchildren across the UK to perform Shakespeare in professional theatres.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.shakespeareschools.org/about-us/patrons |title=Shakespeare Schools Foundation Patrons |website=Shakespeare Schools Foundation |publisher=[[Shakespeare Schools Foundation]] |access-date=12 July 2021 |archive-date=11 December 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171211165434/https://www.shakespeareschools.org/about-us/patrons |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Gavin settled in [[Stroud]], [[Gloucestershire]] before 1990 and was still living there in 2012.<ref name=walker-alex/> In 2016, she became one of the founders of the Stroud Book Festival,<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.stroudfestival.org/word.html |title=Word |access-date=8 March 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180506070910/http://stroudfestival.org/word.html |archive-date=6 May 2018 |url-status=dead}}</ref> together with Cindy Jefferies.<ref>[[Cindy Jefferies]]</ref>{{Circular reference|date=May 2017}}<ref>[http://www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk/big-interview-jamila-gavin-writer-and-director-of-stroud-s-first-ever-book-festival/story-29816176-detail/story.html]{{Dead link|date=January 2020|bot=InternetArchiveBot|fix-attempted=yes}}</ref>

==Writer==
The Surya trilogy – ''The Wheel of Surya'' (1992), ''The Eye of the Horse'' (1994) and ''The Track of the Wind'' (1997) – is a [[family saga]] that follows two generations of Indian [[Sikhs]] and shows the impact of the [[British Empire]] and the [[Partition of India]] on their lives. All three books made [[Guardian Children's Fiction Prize]] shortlists; ''The Wheel of Surya'' was special runner-up.

''[[Coram Boy]]'' won the 2000 [[Whitbread Prize]] as Children's Book of the Year. It is set in the 18th century, being based on the [[Foundling Hospital]] established in London by sea Captain [[Thomas Coram]]. According to a local newspaper, the story "has links to Gloucestershire."<ref name=SNJ/> ''Coram Boy'' has been [[Coram Boy (play)|adapted for the stage]] by [[Helen Edmundson]] and produced by the [[Royal National Theatre]] in 2005–2006, garnering Edmundson an [[Olivier Award]].<ref>[http://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/discover-more/welcome-to-the-national-theatre/the-history-of-the-national-theatre/stage-by-stage-2 "South Bank: 2003–2012"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130922163024/http://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/discover-more/welcome-to-the-national-theatre/the-history-of-the-national-theatre/stage-by-stage-2 |date=22 September 2013}} ''The History of the National Theatre''. National Theatre. Retrieved 8 September 2013.</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://officiallondontheatre.com/olivier-awards/winners/olivier-winners-2006/ |title=Olivier Winners 2006 |website=Olivier Awards |access-date=9 January 2019 |archive-date=29 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211029113820/https://officiallondontheatre.com/olivier-awards/winners/olivier-winners-2006/ |url-status=live }}</ref> It also ran on [[Broadway theatre|Broadway]] in 2007.

''Three Indian Goddesses'' and ''Three Indian Princesses'' are collections of short stories based around Indian legends. Nine other short stories were collected as ''[[The Magic Orange Tree and Other Stories]]''.

''Grandpa Chatterji'' is a series for younger children, named after its first book, which was [[film adaptation|adapted for television]] in 1997.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.eagletv.co.uk/projects/grandpa-chatterji.html |title=Video. |access-date=7 April 2020 |archive-date=4 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200804085734/https://eagletv.co.uk/projects/grandpa-chatterji.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Other books in the series are ''Grandpa Chatterji's Third Eye'' and ''Grandpa's Indian Summer''. The first book made the [[Smarties Prize]] shortlist for reader ages 6–8.<ref name=egmont/>

Jamila Gavin has also written ''The Robber Baron's Daughter'', ''Forbidden Memories'', ''I Want to be An Angel'', ''Kamla and Kate'', ''Someone's Watching, Someone's Waiting'', ''The Hideaway'' and ''The Wormholers''.

== Awards and honors ==
Gavin became a Fellow of the [[Royal Society of Literature]] in 2015.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Royal Society of Literature » Current RSL Fellows |url=https://rsliterature.org/fellows/current-fellows/ |website=rsliterature.org |access-date=9 January 2019 |archive-date=6 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190206015823/https://rsliterature.org/fellows/current-fellows/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> In the [[2024 Birthday Honours|2024 King's Birthday Honours]], she was appointed a [[Member of the Order of the British Empire]], for services to children's literature.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.somersetcountygazette.co.uk/news/24389563.seven-somerset-locals-recognised-kings-birthday-honours-list-2024/ |title=Seven Somerset locals receive King's Birthday Honours |date=15 June 2024 |work=[[Somerset County Gazette]] |access-date=15 June 2024}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible"
|+Awards for Gavin's writing
!Year
!Title
!Award
!Result
!Ref.
|-
|1992
|''{{sort|Wheel of Surya|The Wheel of Surya}}''
|[[Guardian Children's Fiction Prize]]
|Shortlist
|<ref name="literature.britishcouncil.org" />
|-
|1994
|''{{sort|Eye of the Horse|The Eye of the Horse}}''
|[[Guardian Children's Fiction Prize]]
|Shortlist
|<ref name="literature.britishcouncil.org" />
|-
|1997
|''{{sort|Track of the Wind|The Track of the Wind}}''
|[[Guardian Children's Fiction Prize]]
|Shortlist
|<ref name="literature.britishcouncil.org" />
|-
|2000
|''[[Coram Boy]]''
|[[Whitbread Children's Book Award]]
|'''Winner'''
|<ref>{{Cite web |title=Archived copy |url=http://www.costa.co.uk/media/414535/past-winners-complete-list.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170328225415/http://www.costa.co.uk/media/414535/past-winners-complete-list.pdf |archive-date=28 March 2017 |access-date=8 March 2017}}</ref>
|-
|2001
|{{Sort|God at the Gate|''The God at the Gate''}}
|Richard Imison Memorial Award
|Shortlist
|<ref name="literature.britishcouncil.org" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Scriptwriters Group – The Society of Authors |url=https://www.societyofauthors.org/Groups/Broadcasting/BG-Committee/Jamila-Gavin |website=societyofauthors.org |access-date=9 January 2019 |archive-date=10 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190110075531/https://www.societyofauthors.org/Groups/Broadcasting/BG-Committee/Jamila-Gavin |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
|2014
|''Blackberry Blue''
|Neustadt Prize for Children's Literature
|Finalist
|<ref>{{Cite web |date=15 July 2014 |title=Finalists Announced for Prestigious NSK Neustadt Prize for Children's Literature |url=https://www.neustadtprize.org/finalists-announced-prestigious-nsk-neustadt-prize-childrens-literature/ |website=The Neustadt Prize |access-date=9 January 2019 |archive-date=2 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190402223402/http://www.neustadtprize.org/finalists-announced-prestigious-nsk-neustadt-prize-childrens-literature/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
|}

== Publications ==
{{colbegin}}
*''The Magic Orange Tree and other stories'' (1979)
*''Three Indian Princesses'' (1987)
*''The Singing Bowls'' (1989)
*''See No Evil'' (2008)
*''Grandpa Chatterji'' (1993)
*Surya trilogy
**''The Wheel of Surya'' (Methuen, 1992) 
**''The Eye of the Horse'' (Methuen, 1994)
**''The Track of the Wind'' (Mammoth, 1997)
*''Grandpa's Indian Summer'' (1995)
*''The Wormholers'' (1996)<ref name=isfdb/>
*''The Girl Who Rode on a Lion''
*''The Temple by the Sea''
*''The Lake of Stars''
*''Our Favorite Stories'' (1997)
*''The Monkey in the Stars'', self-adapted as a play for children, ''Monkeys in the Stars'' (2001)
*''[[Coram Boy]]'' (2000)  
*''Grandpa Chatterji's Third Eye'' (2006)
*''Fine Feathered Friend'' (1996)
*''Three Indian Goddesses'' (2001)
*''Star Child on Clark Street''
*''Danger By Moonlight'' (2002)
*''Out of India: Walking on My Hands''
*''Out of India: An Anglo Indian Childhood'' (1997)
*''The Whistling Monster''
*''Celebration Stories, Coming Home''
*''An Interview With Jamila Gavin''
*''From Out of the Shadows''
*''The Blood Stone'' (2003)
*''The Robber Baron's Daughter''
*''Deadly Friend'' (1994)
*''I Want to be An Angel'' (1990)
*''Forbidden Memories''
*''Kamla and Kate'' (1983)
*''Kamla and Kate Again''
*''Someone's Watching, Someone's Waiting''
*''The Hideaway'' (1987)
*''Double Dare''
*''Storyworlds'' (Heinemann, 1996), illustrated by Rhian Nest James
**''Grandma's Surprise''
**''The Mango Tree''
**''Presents''
**''Who Did It?''
*''Digital Dan''
*''Ali and the Robots'' (1986)<ref name=isfdb/>
*''Stories From the Hindu World'' (1986)
*''The Bow of Shiva''
*''The Turning Point''
*''Alexander the Greatest'' (Walker, 2009), illustrated by Sumito Sakakibara
*''Fox''
*''Derka Derb''
*''Alexander the Great: Man, Myth, or Monster?'' (Walker, 2012), illustrated by [[David Parkins]]<ref name=walker-alex/>
*''The Paradise Carpet''
{{colend}}

==References==
{{reflist|30em|refs=
<ref name=SNJ>[http://www.stroudnewsandjournal.co.uk/news/4744195.Author_Jamila_Gavin_supports_restoration_of_Minch_Market_House/ "Author Jamila Gavin supports restoration of Minchinhampton Market House"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190306174746/https://www.stroudnewsandjournal.co.uk/news/4744195.Author_Jamila_Gavin_supports_restoration_of_Minch_Market_House/ |date=6 March 2019 }}. Rachel Clare. ''Stroud News & Journal''. 18 November 2009. Retrieved 19 November 2009.</ref>
<ref name=walker-alex>
[http://www.walkerbooks.com.au/Books/ALEXANDER-THE-GREAT-MAN-MYTH-OR-MONSTER-9780744586275 "Alexander the Great: Man, Myth, or Monster?"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150311062917/http://www.walkerbooks.com.au/Books/ALEXANDER-THE-GREAT-MAN-MYTH-OR-MONSTER-9780744586275 |date=11 March 2015 }} (publisher display). Walker Books. Retrieved 7 September 2013.<br> Walker describes the book as biography and history but says that it "will fascinate young readers of fact and fiction alike" and assigns the BIC Code "General fiction (Children's/YA)".</ref>
<ref name=egmont>
[http://www.egmont.co.uk/contributor.asp?contid=62 "Jamila Gavin – Author"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130404101004/http://www.egmont.co.uk/contributor.asp?contid=62 |date=4 April 2013 }}. Egmont UK Ltd. Retrieved 7 September 2013.</ref><ref name=isfdb>
{{ISFDB name|5879}}. Retrieved 8 September 2013.</ref>}}

==External links==
{{Portal|Children's literature |India |Speculative fiction}}
*{{Official website |https://jamilagavin.com}}
*{{British Council |jamila-gavin}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070330180742/http://www.stagework.org/webdav/harmonise?Section%2F%40id=1052&Page%2F%40id=6007 Stageworks: The National Theatre's educational website for Coram Boy]
*{{ISFDB name|5879}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Gavin, Jamila}}
[[Category:1941 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:20th-century English novelists]]
[[Category:British women children's writers]]
[[Category:English children's writers]]
[[Category:English historical novelists]]
[[Category:Fellows of the Royal Society of Literature]]
[[Category:Indian emigrants to England]]
[[Category:Indian people of English descent]]
[[Category:English people of Indian descent]]
[[Category:People educated at Notting Hill & Ealing High School]]
[[Category:People from Mussoorie]]
[[Category:Writers from London]]
[[Category:Members of the Order of the British Empire]]
[[Category:20th-century English women novelists]]

Jamila Gavin - Revision history

AndreaV955081450 at 01:09, 29 April 2026