Rumer Godden (1907 – 1998) was a novelist and memoirist born in England and raised mainly in India at the height of colonial rule. It was her own life that inspired the colorful, dramatic stories she wrote.

Though no longer as widely read as she was during her lifetime, Godden’s works are still very much admired. She was an acclaimed bestselling mid-twentieth century author, nine of whose books were adapted to major films.

Her first novel, Black Narcissus, was published in 1939 to critical acclaim, and like most all the major novels that came after, was a bestseller. The story is set in a cloister high in the Himalayas. A group of nuns in a convent in northern India is the backdrop for a story of cultural conflict and obsessive love.  Read More→