Rumer Godden

Our book group just read Black Narcissus, and watched the film (as this is a Literature into Film group). The discussion was outstanding today as we all tried to relate the roles of missionaries, religion, cultural divides, class systems, and the environment into this book. The author was also absolutely fascinating; she won the Whitbread in 1974 for her Children's literature, was awarded an OBE, lived in England, India, Scotland during the course of her 90 years (d 1998). You might remember her novel 'In this house of Brede'. It was an extraordinary life, well lived, and oft written about. The movie was particularly excellent; a BBC production of her children's book, plus a documentary about her life are also well worth watching. Make sure you see the 'extras' on the dvds!