Emma Tennant
Encyclopedia
Emma Christina Tennant FRSL (born 20 October 1937) is a British
novel
ist and editor
. She is known for a postmodern
approach to her fiction
, which is often imbued with fantasy
or magic
. Several of her novels give a feminist or dreamlike
twist to classic stories, such as Robert Louis Stevenson’s
The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.
, she was educated at St Paul's Girls' School
and spent the World War II
years and her childhood summers at the family's faux Gothic
mansion in Peeblesshire
. Her family also owned estates in Trinidad
. Tennant remembers her father as a mix of rage and benevolence, and these memories may have influenced her fiction.
She is the niece of Edward Wyndham Tennant
and Stephen Tennant
, and the sister of Colin Tennant, 3rd Baron Glenconner
.
Tennant grew up in the modish London of the 1950s and 1960s. She worked as a travel writer for Queen magazine and an editor for Vogue
. In the 1970s, she edited a literary magazine, Bananas, which helped launch the careers of several young novelists. Tennant published her first novel, The Colour of Rain, under a pseudonym when she was twenty-six.
A large number of other books followed in a wide variety of genres: thrillers, children’s books, fantasies, and several revisionist takes on classic novels, including a "sequel" to Pride and Prejudice
called Pemberley
. In later years, she began to treat her own life in such books as Girlitude and Burnt Diaries (both published in 1999). The French Dancer's Bastard, a spinoff of Jane Eyre
, was published in October 2006. The Autobiography of the Queen, written with Hilary Bailey
, was published in October 2007.
Tennant has been married four times, including to the writer and political pundit Alexander Cockburn
, and to the journalist and author Christopher Booker
. She has two daughters and a son, author Matthew Yorke
. In April 2008, she married her partner of 33 years, Tim Owens, saying it was for tax reasons
.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
novel
Novel
A novel is a book of long narrative in literary prose. The genre has historical roots both in the fields of the medieval and early modern romance and in the tradition of the novella. The latter supplied the present generic term in the late 18th century....
ist and editor
Editing
Editing is the process of selecting and preparing written, visual, audible, and film media used to convey information through the processes of correction, condensation, organization, and other modifications performed with an intention of producing a correct, consistent, accurate, and complete...
. She is known for a postmodern
Postmodernism
Postmodernism is a philosophical movement evolved in reaction to modernism, the tendency in contemporary culture to accept only objective truth and to be inherently suspicious towards a global cultural narrative or meta-narrative. Postmodernist thought is an intentional departure from the...
approach to her fiction
Fiction
Fiction is the form of any narrative or informative work that deals, in part or in whole, with information or events that are not factual, but rather, imaginary—that is, invented by the author. Although fiction describes a major branch of literary work, it may also refer to theatrical,...
, which is often imbued with fantasy
Fantasy
Fantasy is a genre of fiction that commonly uses magic and other supernatural phenomena as a primary element of plot, theme, or setting. Many works within the genre take place in imaginary worlds where magic is common...
or magic
Magic (paranormal)
Magic is the claimed art of manipulating aspects of reality either by supernatural means or through knowledge of occult laws unknown to science. It is in contrast to science, in that science does not accept anything not subject to either direct or indirect observation, and subject to logical...
. Several of her novels give a feminist or dreamlike
Dream
Dreams are successions of images, ideas, emotions, and sensations that occur involuntarily in the mind during certain stages of sleep. The content and purpose of dreams are not definitively understood, though they have been a topic of scientific speculation, philosophical intrigue and religious...
twist to classic stories, such as Robert Louis Stevenson’s
Robert Louis Stevenson
Robert Louis Balfour Stevenson was a Scottish novelist, poet, essayist and travel writer. His best-known books include Treasure Island, Kidnapped, and Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde....
The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.
Biography
Tennant is of Scottish extraction, the daughter of Christopher Grey Tennant, 2nd Baron Glenconner, and Elizabeth Lady Glenconner. Born in LondonLondon
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, she was educated at St Paul's Girls' School
St Paul's Girls' School
St Paul's Girls' School is a senior independent school, located in Brook Green, Hammersmith, in West London, England.-History:In 1904 a new day school for girls was established by the trustees of the Dean Colet Foundation , which had run St Paul's School for boys since the sixteenth century...
and spent the World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
years and her childhood summers at the family's faux Gothic
Gothic architecture
Gothic architecture is a style of architecture that flourished during the high and late medieval period. It evolved from Romanesque architecture and was succeeded by Renaissance architecture....
mansion in Peeblesshire
Peeblesshire
Peeblesshire , the County of Peebles or Tweeddale was a county of Scotland. Its main town was Peebles, and it bordered Midlothian to the north, Selkirkshire to the east, Dumfriesshire to the south, and Lanarkshire to the west.After the local government reorganisation of 1975 the use of the name...
. Her family also owned estates in Trinidad
Trinidad
Trinidad is the larger and more populous of the two major islands and numerous landforms which make up the island nation of Trinidad and Tobago. It is the southernmost island in the Caribbean and lies just off the northeastern coast of Venezuela. With an area of it is also the fifth largest in...
. Tennant remembers her father as a mix of rage and benevolence, and these memories may have influenced her fiction.
She is the niece of Edward Wyndham Tennant
Edward Wyndham Tennant
Lt. Edward Wyndham Tennant , was an English war poet, killed at the Battle of the Somme.He was the son of Edward Tennant, who became Lord Glenconner in 1911, and Pamela Wyndham, a writer, Lady Glenconner and later wife of Edward Grey, 1st Viscount Grey of Fallodon...
and Stephen Tennant
Stephen Tennant
Stephen James Napier Tennant was a British aristocrat known for his decadent lifestyle. It is said, albeit apocryphally, that he spent most of his life in bed.-Early life:...
, and the sister of Colin Tennant, 3rd Baron Glenconner
Colin Tennant, 3rd Baron Glenconner
Colin Christopher Paget Tennant, 3rd Baron Glenconner was a Scottish noble. He was the son of Christopher Grey Tennant, 2nd Baron Glenconner and Pamela Winefred Paget...
.
Tennant grew up in the modish London of the 1950s and 1960s. She worked as a travel writer for Queen magazine and an editor for Vogue
Vogue (magazine)
Vogue is a fashion and lifestyle magazine that is published monthly in 18 national and one regional edition by Condé Nast.-History:In 1892 Arthur Turnure founded Vogue as a weekly publication in the United States. When he died in 1909, Condé Montrose Nast picked up the magazine and slowly began...
. In the 1970s, she edited a literary magazine, Bananas, which helped launch the careers of several young novelists. Tennant published her first novel, The Colour of Rain, under a pseudonym when she was twenty-six.
A large number of other books followed in a wide variety of genres: thrillers, children’s books, fantasies, and several revisionist takes on classic novels, including a "sequel" to Pride and Prejudice
Pride and Prejudice
Pride and Prejudice is a novel by Jane Austen, first published in 1813. The story follows the main character Elizabeth Bennet as she deals with issues of manners, upbringing, morality, education and marriage in the society of the landed gentry of early 19th-century England...
called Pemberley
Pemberley
Pemberley is the fictional country estate owned by Fitzwilliam Darcy, the male protagonist in Jane Austen's novel Pride and Prejudice. It is located near the fictional town of Lambton, and believed by some to be based on Chatsworth House, near Bakewell in Derbyshire.In describing the estate, Austen...
. In later years, she began to treat her own life in such books as Girlitude and Burnt Diaries (both published in 1999). The French Dancer's Bastard, a spinoff of Jane Eyre
Jane Eyre
Jane Eyre is a novel by English writer Charlotte Brontë. It was published in London, England, in 1847 by Smith, Elder & Co. with the title Jane Eyre. An Autobiography under the pen name "Currer Bell." The first American edition was released the following year by Harper & Brothers of New York...
, was published in October 2006. The Autobiography of the Queen, written with Hilary Bailey
Hilary Bailey
Hilary Bailey is a British writer and editor, born in 1936. She is the former wife of Michael Moorcock.She edited volumes 7-10 of the New Worlds Quarterly series....
, was published in October 2007.
Tennant has been married four times, including to the writer and political pundit Alexander Cockburn
Alexander Cockburn
Alexander Claud Cockburn is an American political journalist. Cockburn was brought up in Ireland but has lived and worked in the United States since 1972. Together with Jeffrey St. Clair, he edits the political newsletter CounterPunch...
, and to the journalist and author Christopher Booker
Christopher Booker
Christopher John Penrice Booker is an English journalist and author. In 1961, he was one of the founders of the magazine Private Eye, and has contributed to it for over four decades. He has been a columnist for the Sunday Telegraph since 1990...
. She has two daughters and a son, author Matthew Yorke
Matthew Yorke
Matthew Yorke is a British novelist and editor. His most recent work was 2005's critically acclaimed Chancing It - a short novel for young adults...
. In April 2008, she married her partner of 33 years, Tim Owens, saying it was for tax reasons
Inheritance Tax (United Kingdom)
In the United Kingdom, Inheritance Tax is a transfer tax. It was introduced with effect from 18 March 1986 replacing Capital Transfer Tax.-History:...
.
Other notable members of the family
- Edward Priaulx Tennant, 1st Baron Glenconner
- Stephen TennantStephen TennantStephen James Napier Tennant was a British aristocrat known for his decadent lifestyle. It is said, albeit apocryphally, that he spent most of his life in bed.-Early life:...