Alison Uttley
Alison Uttley, born Alice Jane Taylor on December 17, 1884, was an English author renowned for her children's literature, particularly her anthropomorphic animal stories. Raised on a family farm in a modest household, Uttley was encouraged by her parents to pursue education despite their financial struggles. She became one of the early women to earn an honors degree in physics from Manchester University, reflecting her determination in a time when female education was not widely supported.
After marrying James Uttley and leaving her teaching career, she began writing stories inspired by her childhood experiences. Her works often contrasted with those of Beatrix Potter, as Uttley aimed to recapture her upbringing rather than escape it. In addition to children's tales, she authored historical fiction and books on country lore, appealing to both young readers and adults alike. Despite her literary success, Uttley faced personal challenges, including struggles with depression and complex family dynamics. She passed away on May 7, 1976, leaving behind a legacy that continues to resonate with readers.
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Subject Terms
Alison Uttley
Writer
- Born: December 17, 1884
- Birthplace: Cromford, Derbyshire, England
- Died: May 7, 1976
- Place of death: High Wycombe, England
Biography
Alice Jane Taylor was born on December 17, 1884, the daughter of Henry Taylor and Hannah Dickens. She had a younger brother, George, and although they were close playmates in childhood, they would subsequently grow apart as adult interests separated them. She grew up on the family farm, Castle Top Farm, which had been the home of the Taylor family for over two hundred years.
Her father was a kindly and hardworking tenant farmer, wise in the ways of animals and humans. Although he was not a lettered man, he loved music and was religious without going to church, and in general was a respected member of his community. He was an avid storyteller, and his creepy tales were fondly remembered by his daughter years later. By contrast, her mother was a devout Anglican who insisted that she attend church regularly, and who read regularly to the family from books, including the works of Charles Dickens. Young Alison soon began amusing herself by playacting parts from various stories she had heard.
Although her parents were poor, having to take in boarders and do various side jobs to make ends meet, they were determined to obtain the best possible education for their daughter, and sent her to Lea Board, from which she was able to obtain a scholarship to the Lady Manners School. From there she was able to obtain a scholarship to Manchester University, becoming the second woman to graduate with an honors degree in physics in a time when it was still somewhat suspect for a woman to pursue higher education.
While she was at university, she met her future husband, James Uttley. After she had taught several years, she married him and subsequently quit teaching. They had one son together, and she appears to have begun writing by setting down the stories she told him. She sought to recapture the world of her childhood, particularly in her anthropomorphic animal tales. In this, she was the opposite of Beatrix Potter, who had written her own animal stories as an escape from her childhood.
Uttley also wrote a number of historical tales, including a time-travel fantasy about a modern-day girl who goes back to Elizabethan times as a result of her fascination with a carved figure from the period. In addition to her works written specifically for children, she wrote a number of books of country lore which are usually classified with adult nonfiction but which may be equally enjoyed by children as well as by grown-ups. Although Uttley attained considerable success with her writing, she struggled throughout her life with depression, both her own and her husband’s. A woman of strong, even domineering temperament, she had difficulty retaining servants for any length of time, and was often at odds with her family, particularly her extended family of various relatives. She died on May 7, 1976.