Evelyn Anthony
Encyclopedia
Evelyn Anthony is the pen name of Evelyn Ward Thomas, a British female writer.
She started writing in 1949, following her marriage. Her pen name comes from Evelyn as a man's profile, as women were often not published during the years after the Second World War, and Saint Anthony
, the Catholic patron of Lost Causes.
First writing short stories for periodicals, she gained fame and success with her well-researched historical novel
s, being especially noted for her original treatment of Anne Boleyn
- a historical character dealt with by numerous other writers. Two of them became US Literary Guild Choices.
Her historical novels "Far Flies The Eagle" and "Valentina" were both set during Napoleon's invasion of Russia
. The later novels had a theme of espionage
.
Later, Anthony switched to writing contemporary thrillers and spy novels, featuring strong female leads such as Davina Graham (Head of British spy services) with well-developed characterisation of protagonists and twist endings, which her readers came to expect.
Her 1971 The Tamarind Seed
was adapted for film
in 1974, starring Julie Andrews
as Judith Farrow, a British Home Office functionary and Omar Sharif
as Feodor, a Soviet air attaché- lovers involved in Cold War
intrigue.
She adapted well to the end of the Cold War and continued writing thrillers set in the post-1990 reality.
Her books were translated into no fewer than nineteen languages and frequently compared to the writings of Ted Allbeury, Colin Forbes
and Clare Francis
.
She lives in a sixteenth-century manor in Essex
, Horham Hall
. Earlier, they lived in Kildare
in Ireland. Her hobbies are reported to be her dogs, socialising, gardening and listening to classical music.
Born and brought up before the wearing of fur
became controversial, Evelyn Anthony is fond of wearing a huge red fox fur hat, a present which her husband obtained during a business trip in Russia.
Life and work
In her youth during the Second World War she was educated largely at home, rather than at school. While she was evacuated to the West Country, Henry Christian Stephens, her father re-entered the Royal Navy to develop his Dome Trainer, one of the first inventions to cover anti aircraft gunnery training.She started writing in 1949, following her marriage. Her pen name comes from Evelyn as a man's profile, as women were often not published during the years after the Second World War, and Saint Anthony
Anthony of Padua
Anthony of Padua or Anthony of Lisbon, O.F.M., was a Portuguese Catholic priest and friar of the Franciscan Order. Though he died in Padua, Italy, he was born to a wealthy family in Lisbon, Portugal, which is where he was raised...
, the Catholic patron of Lost Causes.
First writing short stories for periodicals, she gained fame and success with her well-researched historical novel
Historical novel
According to Encyclopædia Britannica, a historical novel is-Development:An early example of historical prose fiction is Luó Guànzhōng's 14th century Romance of the Three Kingdoms, which covers one of the most important periods of Chinese history and left a lasting impact on Chinese culture.The...
s, being especially noted for her original treatment of Anne Boleyn
Anne Boleyn
Anne Boleyn ;c.1501/1507 – 19 May 1536) was Queen of England from 1533 to 1536 as the second wife of Henry VIII of England and Marquess of Pembroke in her own right. Henry's marriage to Anne, and her subsequent execution, made her a key figure in the political and religious upheaval that was the...
- a historical character dealt with by numerous other writers. Two of them became US Literary Guild Choices.
Her historical novels "Far Flies The Eagle" and "Valentina" were both set during Napoleon's invasion of Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
. The later novels had a theme of espionage
Espionage
Espionage or spying involves an individual obtaining information that is considered secret or confidential without the permission of the holder of the information. Espionage is inherently clandestine, lest the legitimate holder of the information change plans or take other countermeasures once it...
.
Later, Anthony switched to writing contemporary thrillers and spy novels, featuring strong female leads such as Davina Graham (Head of British spy services) with well-developed characterisation of protagonists and twist endings, which her readers came to expect.
Her 1971 The Tamarind Seed
The Tamarind Seed
The Tamarind Seed is a 1974 Blake Edwards film starring Julie Andrews as Judith Farrow, a British Home Office functionary and Omar Sharif as Feodor, a Soviet air attaché – lovers involved in Cold War intrigue. This was Lorimar's first film. The score was composed by John Barry. The...
was adapted for film
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
in 1974, starring Julie Andrews
Julie Andrews
Dame Julia Elizabeth Andrews, DBE is an English film and stage actress, singer, and author. She is the recipient of Golden Globe, Emmy, Grammy, BAFTA, People's Choice Award, Theatre World Award, Screen Actors Guild and Academy Award honors...
as Judith Farrow, a British Home Office functionary and Omar Sharif
Omar Sharif
Omar Sharif is an Egyptian actor who has starred in Hollywood films including Lawrence of Arabia, Doctor Zhivago and Funny Girl. He has been nominated for an Academy Award and has won two Golden Globe Awards.-Early life:...
as Feodor, a Soviet air attaché- lovers involved in Cold War
Cold War
The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...
intrigue.
She adapted well to the end of the Cold War and continued writing thrillers set in the post-1990 reality.
Her books were translated into no fewer than nineteen languages and frequently compared to the writings of Ted Allbeury, Colin Forbes
Colin Forbes (novelist)
Raymond Harold Sawkins was a British novelist, who mainly published under the pseudonym Colin Forbes, but also as Richard Raine, Jay Bernard and Harold English. He only published three of his first books under his own name.Sawkins wrote over 40 books, mostly as Colin Forbes...
and Clare Francis
Clare Francis
Clare Mary Francis MBE is a British novelist also known for her former career as a yachtswoman.Clare Francis was born in Thames Ditton, Surrey, and spent summer holidays on the Isle of Wight, where she learnt to sail...
.
Family
She was married to Michael Ward-Thomas, former director of a mining company, who died in 2004. They had six children - four sons and two daughters. A daughter, Kitty, died in 1995. There are fourteen grandchildren spread around the globe, the latest in Australia in early 2008.She lives in a sixteenth-century manor in Essex
Essex
Essex is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England, and one of the home counties. It is located to the northeast of Greater London. It borders with Cambridgeshire and Suffolk to the north, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent to the South and London to the south west...
, Horham Hall
Horham Hall
Horham Hall is a late medieval hall in Broxted, England. Today Horham Hall is the home of novelist Evelyn Anthony and her husband Michael Ward-Thomas.-Design:...
. Earlier, they lived in Kildare
Kildare
-External links:*******...
in Ireland. Her hobbies are reported to be her dogs, socialising, gardening and listening to classical music.
Born and brought up before the wearing of fur
Fur
Fur is a synonym for hair, used more in reference to non-human animals, usually mammals; particularly those with extensives body hair coverage. The term is sometimes used to refer to the body hair of an animal as a complete coat, also known as the "pelage". Fur is also used to refer to animal...
became controversial, Evelyn Anthony is fond of wearing a huge red fox fur hat, a present which her husband obtained during a business trip in Russia.
(Partial) Bibliography
The following bibliography includes both historical novels and thrillers.- 1954 : Curse Not the King
- 1955 : Far Flies The Eagle
- 1957 : Anne Boleyn
- 1958 : Victoria and Albert
- 1960 : Elizabeth
- 1960 : All the Queen's Men
- 1961 : Charles the King
- 1963 : Clandara
- 1964 : The French Bride
- 1964 : The Heiress
- 1966 : Valentina
- 1967 : The Rendezvous
- 1969 : The Legend
- 1970 : The Assassin
- 1971 : The Tamarind SeedThe Tamarind SeedThe Tamarind Seed is a 1974 Blake Edwards film starring Julie Andrews as Judith Farrow, a British Home Office functionary and Omar Sharif as Feodor, a Soviet air attaché – lovers involved in Cold War intrigue. This was Lorimar's first film. The score was composed by John Barry. The...
- 1972 : The Poellenberg Inheritance
- 1973 : The Occupying Power aka Stranger at the Gates
- 1974 : The Malaspiga Exit
- 1975 : The Persian Ransom
- 1977 : The Silver Falcon
- 1978 : The Return
- 1979 : The Grave of Truth
- 1980 : The Defector
- 1981 : The Avenue of the Dead
- 1982 : Albatross
- 1983 : The Company of Saints
- 1985 : Voices in the Wind
- 1987 : No Enemy But Time
- 1988 : The House of Vandekar
- 1989 : The Scarlet Thread
- 1991 : The Relic
- 1992 : The Doll's House
- 1994 : Exposure
- 1994 : The Heiress
- 1995 : Bloodstones
- 2002 : A Dubious Legacy
- 2002 : Codeword Janus
- 2003 : Sleeping with the Enemy
- 2004 : Betrayal
- 2004 : No Resistance
- 2005 : Mind Games