Mariana Villa-Gilbert
Mariana Villa-Gilbert | |
|---|---|
| Born | Mariana Soledad Magdalena Villa-Gilbert 1937 Croydon, England |
| Died | 8 May 2023 |
| Occupation | Writer |
| Alma mater | Saint Martin's School of Art |
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Mariana Soledad Magdalena Villa-Gilbert[1] (1937–2023) was an English author.[2]
Villa-Gilbert was born in Croydon in 1937,[3] to parents Walter and Ada (née Hill) Villa-Gilbert.[2] She had one sister.[1] Her father owned a silver making business,[4] and the family moved to Devon, to be near his factory. In 1944, when she was seven, Mariana's father died suddenly. Her mother, inheriting Walter's estate, married a Polish RAF officer, Marjan Gorączko.[2] In 1947 the family moved to Gorączko's home in Myślenice. The sisters were neglected by both Ada and Marjan, and having been denied attendance at school because of their nationality, spent their time playing and fending for themselves in the neighbouring countryside. The sisters returned to England in 1952 following an appeal to the British Embassy. There, Mariana finished boarding school at St Finian's in Cold Ash before studying sculpture at Saint Martin's School of Art.[2]
Villa-Gilbert's first novel, Mrs Galbraith's Air (1963),[5][6] was sold to Chatto & Windus by the literary agent Herbert van Thal, in 1963. She continued with the company, encouraged particularly by Norah Smallwood, until 1973 and her sixth and last novel, Manuela: A Modern Myth. The first three novels appeared with the author's name as M. Villa-Gilbert.[citation needed] A short story collection, The Sun in Horus, was published by Hamish Hamilton in 1986.[7]
Following their mother's death in 1993, the sisters moved together to Cornwall.[2] Mariana Villa-Gilbert died 8 May 2023, at the age of 86.[1]
Villa-Gilbert's literature was studied for its themes relating to gender and sexuality. In a 2022 interview, she stated, "I feel I am neither a woman, nor a man. I feel I am only myself."[2] Her literary papers, drafts, correspondence, unpublished novels, stories, poetry, and a play, were acquired by the Special Collections at the University of Exeter in 2025.[3] Following renewed interest in Villa-Gilbert's fourth book, A Jingle-Jangle Song (1968),[8][9] it was republished as a paperback by Lurid Editions, in 2026.[10][better source needed]
Bibliography
- Mrs Galbraith's Air (1963)
- My Love All Dressed in White (1964)
- Mrs Cantello (1966)[11][12]
- A Jingle-Jangle Song (1968)
- The Others (1970)[13]
- Manuela: A Modern Myth (1973)
- The Sun in Horus (1986)
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Denton, Maxine (2023-06-14). "Cornwall funeral notices and tributes to people who have died". Cornwall Live. Retrieved 2026-08-03.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 Adams, Christopher (2023-06-01). "Mariana Villa-Gilbert obituary". The Guardian. Retrieved 2026-08-03.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Merrington, Andrew (2025-02-28). "Forgotten author's literary papers acquired by University's Special Collections". University of Exeter. Retrieved 2026-08-03.
- ↑ "Silver Makers' Marks - London Assay Office (W)". Silver Makers' Marks. Retrieved 2026-08-03.
- ↑ Chaumeil, C. (1963-10-01). "M. VILLA-GILBERT: "Mrs. Galbraith's Air" (Book Review)". Études Anglaises. 16 (4): 407 – via ProQuest.
- ↑ "Villa-Gilbert, M. "Mrs Galbraith's Air" (Book Review)". New Statesman. 65: 647. 1963-01-04 – via ProQuest.
- ↑ "The Sun in Horus". Kirkus Reviews. 1986-07-15. Retrieved 2026-08-03.
- ↑ "A Jingle-Jangle Song, by Mariana Villa-Gilbert (1968)". The Neglected Book Page. 2023-07-19. Retrieved 2026-08-03.
- ↑ "Villa-Gilbert, Mariana "A Jingle Jangle Song" (Book Review)". New Statesman. 75: 455. 1968-01-01 – via ProQuest.
- ↑ "lurideditions.com". Lurid Editions A Jingle-Jangle Song by Mariana Villa-Gilbert, Publication Date 29 January 2026.
- ↑ Byrom, Bill (1966-08-26). "Perspectives". The Spectator Archive. Retrieved 2026-08-03.
- ↑ "Villa-Gilbert, M. "Mrs Cantello" (Book Review)". New Statesman. 72: 266. 1966-07-01 – via ProQuest.
- ↑ "Villa-Gilbert, Mariana "The Others" (Book Review)". New Statesman. 80: 538. 1970-07-01 – via ProQuest.
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