Rumer Godden (1907–98) was the acclaimed author of over sixty works of fiction and non-fiction for adults and children. Born in England, she and her siblings grew up in Narayanganj, India, and she later spent many years living in Calcutta and Kashmir. In 1949 she returned permanently to Britain, and spent the last twenty years of her life in Scotland. Several of her novels were made into films, including Black Narcissus in an Academy Award-winning adaption by Powell and Pressburger, The Greengage Summer, The Battle of the Villa Fiorita and The River, which was filmed by Jean Renoir. She was appointed OBE in 1993.