Winifred James Winifred James i(A24779 works by) (a.k.a. Winifred Llewellyn James; Winifred Lewellin De Jan; Mrs Henry De Jan)
Also writes as: Edward of the Golden Heart
Born: Established: 20 Mar 1876 Prahran, South Yarra - Glen Iris area, Melbourne - Inner South, Melbourne, Victoria, ; Died: Ceased: 27 Apr 1941 Sydney, New South Wales,
Gender: Female
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BiographyHistory

Winifred James worked as a journalist and at the age of 29 left Australia for London. She married American Henry De Jan in London on 30 April 1913. James lived in Jamaica, Panama, the United States and England, managing an antique shop in London for a time.

After her divorce in 1927, James was considered an alien under English law. She subsequently became a vocal opponent of the Married Women's Property Act, which refused to permit women to retain their own nationality after marriage. There was considerable interest from the media and James was naturalised in 1935.

In 1939, her health failing, James returned to Australia, arriving back in Sydney on December 26. She died less than two years later.

In addition to her novels, James wrote essays, travel books and children's fiction.

Most Referenced Works

Notes

  • See also the full Australian Dictionary of Biography Online entry for Winifred Llewellyn James, (1876-1941).
  • The June 1933 issue of The Home includes 'To Be or Not to Be British?' (by T. H. C.), a brief commentary which notes that 'Miss Winifred James...the heroine of the Women's Nationality case, is Australian by birth, having been born in Melbourne, Victoria. As a young woman she, quite unknown, set off to England and made an instantaneous success with her first book, Bachelor Betty. Since then she has written many books: Letters to My Son, published anonymously, created a great stir in 1910 and was attributed to J. M. Barrie, in view of its delicate style. It seems a paradox that her last book, A Man for England, which is a clarion call to the youth of England to stand by their country in the present crisis, should be written by one to whom British status is denied.' (appears in the topical monthly column, 'Contributed Comments')

Known archival holdings

State Library of Victoria (VIC)
Last amended 23 Jan 2012 15:40:14
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