Author of novels, detective fiction, and children's books. She was
educated at St. Michael's Convent, North Finchley, and at St. Anne's
College, Oxford. From 1959 to 1962 she taught English at Enfield Girls'
Grammar School. Winner of the Book World Festival Award, 1970, for
Fireweed; the Whitbread Prize, 1974 (for a Children's novel) for The
Emperor's Winding Sheet; The Boston Globe-Horn Book Award 1976 for
Unleaving; The Universe Prize, 1984 for A Parcel of Patterns; and the
Smarties Grand Prix, 1984, for Gaffer Samson's Luck. In 1994, her novel
Knowledge of Angels was short-listed for the Booker Prize. She has
contributed articles and reviews to many journals and is 'adjunct
British board member' of Childrens' Literature New England.