Jacky Gillott
Jacky Gillott was a prominent feminist writer born in Bromley, England, in 1939. She pursued an education at University College, London, graduating in 1960, and went on to have a career in journalism, becoming the first female news reporter for Independent Television in 1968. Gillott authored five novels, with her first, "Salvage" (1971), gaining critical acclaim for its intricate structure and exploration of heavy themes such as identity and societal pressures on women. Her second novel, "War Baby" (1974), addresses issues surrounding pregnancy and abortion through the perspective of a woman grappling with her choices. Throughout her works, Gillott critiqued the sacrifices women often make for family life, discussing their struggle for personal identity amidst societal expectations. Despite her literary success, Gillott tragically took her own life in 1980 at the age of 40. She is remembered for her insightful commentary on women's experiences, her unique narrative style, and her passionate advocacy for political and social issues, including alternative energy sources.
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Subject Terms
Jacky Gillott
Fiction Writer
- Born: 1939
- Died: September 19, 1980
Biography
Feminist writer Jacky Gillott was born in Bromley, England, in 1939 to business executive William and Irene Rose Gillott. She graduated with honors from University College, London, in 1960, married Radio Newsreel director John Pervical in 1963, and had two sons. Early on, she worked as a reporter for the Sheffield Telegraph and as a current affairs reporter for the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) in London in 1963. She became the first female news reporter for Independent Television in 1968, and worked for the station until 1973. Sadly, Gillott committed suicide in Somerset, England, in 1980 at the age of forty.
Her first novel, Salvage (1971), which contains autobiographical elements, received high critical praise, especially for its complex structure and claustrophobic atmosphere. Its double parallel time scheme, which occurs in a single day, begins with the anonymous protagonist considering suicide but choosing escape instead. The parallel protagonist, Helena, comes to regret her marriage, career and children. In War Baby (1974), told in flashback, Garbie, the plain pregnant protagonist who never marries describes the thoughts and fears of a woman intent on abortion. The novel critically examines English society and thematically deals with the inherent differences between societies privileged and disenfranchised.
Gillott thematically explored women’s frustration over foregoing creativity and career for marriage and children and the resultant loss of self-identity and inherent resentment. In all, Gillott wrote five novels. She remains praised for her strong ability to construct structure, her quirky sense of humor, her knowledge of events that shape the world and for her high moral and political principles. Gillott deeply craved loving relationships between human beings, cared deeply for political, religious, and economic ideas, and fought vigorously for the development of alternative energy sources.