Lena Kennedy (15 June 1914 – 1 August 1986, was an English author. Her books were mostly historic romantic fiction set in and around the

East End The East End of London, often referred to within the London area simply as the East End, is the historic core of wider East London, east of the Roman and medieval walls of the City of London and north of the River Thames. It does not have uni ...

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where she lived for all her life. Some of her books, including her autobiography, were published

posthumously Posthumous may refer to: * Posthumous award - an award, prize or medal granted after the recipient's death * Posthumous publication – material published after the author's death * ''Posthumous'' (album), by Warne Marsh, 1987 * ''Posthumous'' (E ...

. She appeared, as a subject, on the television programme ''

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'' shortly before her death in

1986 The year 1986 was designated as the International Year of Peace by the United Nations. Events January * January 1 ** Aruba gains increased autonomy from the Netherlands by separating from the Netherlands Antilles. **Spain and Portugal ente ...

Biography

Lena Kennedy grew up in Hoxton and attended Gospel Street school, leaving at fourteen to work in a tailoring factory. Her father was Cornelius Erin Kennedy and her mother Margaret Murphy who were Irish immigrants from Cork. On 13 April 1938 she married Frederick George Smith and they had two children. Her first novel was published when she was sixty-four and she went on to write many best selling books.

Bibliography

Fiction

* ''Maggie'' (1979) * ''Autumn Alley'' (1980) * ''Kitty'' (1981) * ''Nelly Kelly'' (1981) * ''Lizzie'' (1983) * ''Lady Penelope'' (1984) * ''Susan'' (1985) * ''Lily, My Lovely'' (1985) * ''Down Our Street'' (1987) * ''Dandelion Seed'' (1988) * ''Eve's Apples'' (1989) * ''Inn on the Marsh'' (1989) * ''Owen Oliver'' (1990) * ''Kate of Clyve Shore'' (collection) (1992) * ''Ivy of the Angel'' (collection) 1993) * ''Queenie's Castle'' (1994)

Autobiographical works

* ''Away to the Woods: The Autobiography of Lena Kennedy'' (1995)

References

1914 births 1986 deaths Writers from London English romantic fiction writers English historical novelists Women romantic fiction writers English women novelists 20th-century English women writers 20th-century English novelists Women historical novelists {{England-novelist-stub