Renowned Novelist Jane Gardam Passes Away at 96

Jane Gardam, the acclaimed British novelist best known for 'Old Filth' and 'The Hollow Land,' has died at age 96, concluding a celebrated career that spanned five decades. Gardam was unique in winning the prestigious Whitbread (now Costa) Award in both the children’s and adult novel categories and was also recognized with nominations for the Booker, Orange, and Folio prizes. Her works often explored the tension between social convention and inner feeling, frequently through the eyes of children and with a keen sense for period and character. Admired for her storytelling, wit, and humanity, Gardam was praised by fellow authors such as Ian McEwan, Hilary Mantel, and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. Despite not achieving the popular acclaim of some contemporaries, she maintained a loyal readership and was never out of print. Her legacy is marked by her distinctive voice, humor, and deep empathy for her characters.