Norman, Diana 1935–

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Norman, Diana 1935–

PERSONAL: Born August 25, 1935, in Devon, England; daughter of Arthur (a journalist) and Aeron (a nurse; maiden name, Franklin) Narracott; married Barry Norman (a television presenter and writer), October 12, 1957; children: Samantha, Norman, Clifford, Emma. Education: Attended private school. Politics: Liberal. Religion: Church of England.

ADDRESSES: Home—Hertfordshire, England. Agent—c/o Penguin Publicity, 375 Hudson St., New York, NY 10014.

CAREER: Journalist in London, England, 1956–61; freelance journalist, 1961–70.

MEMBER: International P.E.N.

WRITINGS:

The Stately Ghosts of England (nonfiction), F. Muller (London, England), 1963, Robin Clark (Stevenage, England), 1977.

Road from Singapore (biography), Hodder & Stoughton (London, England), 1970, revised edition, 1979.

Fitzempress' Law (novel), St. Martin's (New York, NY), 1980.

King of the Last Days, Hodder & Stoughton (London, England), 1981.

The Morning Gift, St. Martin's (New York, NY), 1985.

Terrible Beauty: A Life of Constance Markievicz, 1868–1927 (biography), Hodder & Stoughton (London, England), 1987.

Daughter of Lir (historical novel), Headline (London, England), 1989.

The Pirate Queen, Headline (London, England), 1991.

A Catch of Consequence, HarperCollins (London, England), 2002, Berkley Books (New York, NY), 2003.

Taking Liberties (sequel to A Catch of Consequence), HarperCollins (London, England), 2003.

SIDELIGHTS: Diana Norman has published well-known works of fiction and nonfiction on both sides of the Atlantic. In 2002 she released the historical novel A Catch of Consequence, which begins in Boston in 1765. Makepeace Burke, an American revolutionary, is fishing in Boston Harbor when she notices Lord Philip Dapifer floating in the ocean, tossed there by protesters of the Stamp Tax. After rescuing Philip from the water, Makepeace cares for him in her home and the two slowly fall in love. Viewed as a traitor by her fellow patriots, Makepeace goes to England, a country she loathes, to be with Philip. Writing for Kliatt, Nola Theiss observed: "The story is told with an air of authenticity, making this novel more than a history lesson." John Charles remarked in Booklist that A Catch of Consequence is "resplendent with historical details, filled with beautifully crafted characters, and kissed with … romance."

Makepeace's story continues in the follow-up to A Catch of Consequence, Taking Liberties. Upon learning that her daughter has been taken prisoner by the British, Makepeace springs into action to save her and helps others in the process.

Diana Norman once told CA: "Terrible Beauty: A Life of Constance Markievicz, 1868–1927, the biography of the Countess Markievicz, one of the leaders of Ireland's fight for freedom, combined my two great interests—the relationship of Britain and Ireland and the need to celebrate women's part in history. Pirate Queen tells the story of Grace O'Malley, a great Irish woman pirate, and that of another contemporary pirate, Queen Elizabeth I of England."