Penelope Mortimer (1918-1999) is the author of nine novels as well as two collections of short stories, a co-authored travel book, two screenplays, a biography of the Queen Mother, and two volumes of autobiography; she also worked as an agony aunt, journalist and was film critic for The Observer. She is best known for her 1962 novel The Pumpkin Eater which was later successfully adapted for film by Harold Pinter and directed by Jack Clayton; Pinter won the 1964 BAFTA Award for Best British Screenplay and its star, Anna Bancroft, won Best Actress for her role at the 1964 Cannes Film Festival as well as receiving an Academy Award nomination. The Pumpkin Eater secured Mortimer’s reputation and, at the …
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Citation: Myler, Kerry. "Penelope Ruth Mortimer". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 28 February 2020 [https://staging.litencyc.com/php/speople.php?rec=true&UID=3217, accessed 07 October 2024.]