Dorothy Dunnett
Dorothy, Lady Dunnett | |
---|---|
Born | Dorothy Halliday 25 August 1923 Dunfermline, Scotland |
Died | 9 November 2001 Edinburgh, Scotland | (aged 78)
Occupation | Novelist |
Nationality | Scottish |
Period | 1961–2000 |
Genre | historical fiction, mystery |
Notable works | Lymond Chronicles, House of Niccolò, Johnson Johnson series, King Hereafter |
Notable awards | OBE |
Spouse | Sir Alastair Dunnett |
Dorothy, Lady Dunnett
Life and work
Dunnett was educated at James Gillespie's High School for Girls in Edinburgh. She started her career as a press officer in the civil service, where she met her husband.
A leading light in the Scottish arts world and a
In 2001 she founded the Dorothy Dunnett Society to promote interest in the historical periods about which she wrote and communication among her readers. Dunnett's archive was left to the National Library of Scotland and articles from it appear in Whispering Gallery, the magazine of the Dorothy Dunnett Society.
Dorothy Dunnett was married in 1946 to Sir Alastair Dunnett, editor of The Scotsman newspaper, and appears in his autobiography, Among Friends, 1984. By virtue of his knighthood in 1995, she became Lady Dunnett. She died in Edinburgh, and was survived by her sons Ninian and Mungo Dunnett.
Historical fiction
Lymond Chronicles
The manuscript for the first book in the Lymond Chronicles, The Game of Kings, was rejected by five British publishers before being published by U.S. publisher Putnam in 1961. It was written in response to her husband's suggestion that she write something herself, when she complained of having run out of reading material.
The Lymond Chronicles is a series of six novels, set in mid-sixteenth-century Europe and the Mediterranean, which follows the life and career of a Scottish nobleman,
The House of Niccolò
As with the Lymond Chronicles, the series features a number of historical persons, many as important characters. Both the historical and fictional characters are, however, taken from a wider variety of occupations and social classes than in the Lymond Chronicles. There are significant differences in narrative approach and writing style between the series, reflecting in part the very different personal journey taken by the central character in each.
King Hereafter
The Dorothy Dunnett Companion and Companion II
Dunnett assisted in the compilation of The Dorothy Dunnett Companion (1994) and The Dorothy Dunnett Companion II (2002), which were written by Elspeth Morrison. These books provide background information to historical characters and events featured in the Lymond Chronicles and The House of Niccolò, as well as explanations of classical allusions and literary and other quotations used in the two series, notes to sources of these citations, and many maps. The second volume, which was written after the Niccolò series was completed,contains a bibliography of many of the hundreds of primary and secondary sources Dunnett used in her historical research. Dunnett contributed more to the second volume than the first and wrote many of the entries.
The Johnson Johnson series
This series of mystery thrillers was written over a long period, starting when she was writing the Lymond Chronicles. The final entry was published prior to the first House of Niccolò book.
Other works
"The Proving Climb"
A contemporary short story, "The Proving Climb", set on the Scottish Isle of St. Kilda, was published in the 1973 anthology Scottish Short Stories (Scottish Arts Council, published by Collins,
The Lymond Poetry
The Lymond Poetry contains her versions and translations of some of the poems that appeared in The Lymond Chronicles. This was finalised after her death by Elspeth Morrison and edited by Richenda Todd (
The Scottish Highlands
In collaboration with her husband, Alastair Dunnett, she wrote the text for the photography book The Scottish Highlands (Photographs: David Patterson), published in 1988.
Adaptations
In December 2016, it was announced that the rights to the Lymond Chronicles had been obtained by Mammoth Screen with a view to making a TV series.[3]
Additional information
Dorothy Dunnett Society
Dorothy Dunnett founded the Dorothy Dunnett Society. Membership of this registered charity is open to all Dunnett readers, and aims to promote interest in the periods of history about which Dunnett wrote, to preserve her writings, and to promote appreciation of the literary merit of her works.[4] It also encourages discussion and meetings between readers. Prior to 1 September 2011, the Society was known as the Dorothy Dunnett Readers' Association.
Memorial
On 22 April 2006, a memorial stone to Lady Dunnett was laid by her grandchildren, Hal and Bella Dunnett, alongside those for
Edinburgh home
Dunnett's long-term home at 87 Colinton Road, Edinburgh was at an Edwardian era semi-detached villa in the Merchiston area, designed by Edward Calvert.
Gatherings
Dorothy Dunnett readers are devoted and active, and have held gatherings in Edinburgh in 1990, 1994, and in 2000 with over 300 people in attendance. Similar events were held in Boston, and in Philadelphia in 2000. Since her death smaller international gatherings of between 50 and 115 people have been held in Dublin (November 2001), New Orleans (November 2003), Malta (October 2005), Saddell in South West Scotland (April 2007), Orkney (September 2007), and Paris (2010).
A gathering, 'The Dunnett Siege of Constantinople', took place in Istanbul in September 2012.
There are several meetings of readers in the UK each year, in locations such as Oxford, Bath, London, York, Warwick, Harrogate and Stamford.[7] Also the formal Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Dorothy Dunnett Society is held each spring in Edinburgh as part of its Dorothy Dunnett Weekend.[8]
Occasional meetings are held in Australia and Canada, as well, with one SworDDplay held in Vancouver in April 2006 and another in Alexandria, Virginia in the United States in March 2008 and the Dunnett Confluence of Pittsburgh took place in Pennsylvania in October 2013. Smaller meetings also occur locally in several other countries, such as Germany (notably the annual meeting in Darmstadt) and Italy.
Readers also get together more informally to go on holiday to various Dunnett locations. In 2007 some readers visited Timbuktu and others Venice.
International Dorothy Dunnett Day (IDDD)
In 2011, the first International Dorothy Dunnett Day[9] was announced by the Dorothy Dunnett Society to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the publication of The Game of Kings. It was held on Saturday 15 October 2011, with readers gathering in locations around the world at 13:00 (1pm) local time to toast the author. Meetings were held in Edinburgh, London, Vancouver, San Francisco, the Costa Del Sol, Boston, and other locations. The second IDDD [10] was held on Saturday 10 November 2012, to commemorate the 11th anniversary of the death of Dorothy Dunnett on 9 November 2001. The last pre-COVID-19 event was held on 9 November 2019.[11][12]
References
- ^ Fiske-Harrison, Alexander 'Connected By Blood', The Times Literary Supplement. 11 August 2000
- ^ "The Books". The Dorothy Dunnett Society. Retrieved 24 June 2018.
- ^ Dowell, Ben (22 December 2016). "Poldark producers line up new heroic historical drama The Lymond Chronicles". Radio Times. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
- ^ "Constitution of the Dorothy Dunnett Society" (PDF). Dorothy Dunnett Society. May 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 April 2012. Retrieved 27 May 2012.
- ^ Whispering Gallery 117
- ^ Whispering Gallery 133
- ^ Whispering Gallery 119
- ^ Whispering Gallery 119
- ^ (IDDD01)Hedges, "The First Ever International Dorothy Dunnett Day", Whispering Gallery, 111.
- ^ (IDDD02)Editor, "The First Ever International Dorothy Dunnett Day", Whispering Gallery, 115.
- ^ "International Dorothy Dunnett Day (IDDD) 2019". Dorothy Dunnett Society. 15 July 2019. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
- ^ "Forthcoming Events". Dorothy Dunnett Society. 2021. Retrieved 31 May 2021.