Dilly Court is an English author specialising in historical fiction and family sagas. She is best known for her novels set in early 20th-century England, which often feature resilient heroines and dramatic plots.
Dilly Court was born in northeast London during the Second World War. Her family's fortunes changed dramatically after her father fell out with relatives and lost his share of the family furniture business. This event shaped Court's early life and forced her parents to move to Wales while she remained in London. At 16, she left school to work as a secretary for Associated-Rediffusion, later moving into advertising copywriting. This period marked the beginning of her love of storytelling, although life's challenges delayed her pursuit of a writing career.
Her first marriage to a sea captain brought difficulties, including financial hardship. She raised two children while working in hospital administration, often struggling to make ends meet. Reflecting on the period, she said: "I was always too busy looking after the children myself and just surviving, really".
After her marriage ended, Court eventually remarried and retired early, giving her the time and financial stability to concentrate on writing.
Court began writing novels in her mid-50s, drawing inspiration from her life experiences. After years of rejection, her debut, Mermaids Singing (2005), was published. The book's success paved the way for a prolific career; she has since written more than 30 novels. Notable works include The Button Box (2017), which reached number two on the Sunday Times bestseller list, and Dolly's Dream (2023), which topped the mass market fiction charts.
Many of Court's novels, including the Rockwood Chronicles series, explore themes of survival and social constraints. The fourth book in the series, Sunday's Child (2022), became her first overall UK bestseller, displacing Richard Osman's The Man Who Died Twice.
Court often reflects on the perseverance required to achieve her success. She recalls rejection after rejection early in her career: "I could tell I was getting better; the feedback was getting kinder, and I was learning from every failure."
Dilly Court lives with her husband in Dorset on the Jurassic Coast. Her latest novel, Snow Angel, was published in September 2024.
Photo credit: FB @DillyCourtAuthor
Dilly Court was born in northeast London during the Second World War. Her family's fortunes changed dramatically after her father fell out with relatives and lost his share of the family furniture business. This event shaped Court's early life and forced her parents to move to Wales while she remained in London. At 16, she left school to work as a secretary for Associated-Rediffusion, later moving into advertising copywriting. This period marked the beginning of her love of storytelling, although life's challenges delayed her pursuit of a writing career.
Her first marriage to a sea captain brought difficulties, including financial hardship. She raised two children while working in hospital administration, often struggling to make ends meet. Reflecting on the period, she said: "I was always too busy looking after the children myself and just surviving, really".
After her marriage ended, Court eventually remarried and retired early, giving her the time and financial stability to concentrate on writing.
Court began writing novels in her mid-50s, drawing inspiration from her life experiences. After years of rejection, her debut, Mermaids Singing (2005), was published. The book's success paved the way for a prolific career; she has since written more than 30 novels. Notable works include The Button Box (2017), which reached number two on the Sunday Times bestseller list, and Dolly's Dream (2023), which topped the mass market fiction charts.
Many of Court's novels, including the Rockwood Chronicles series, explore themes of survival and social constraints. The fourth book in the series, Sunday's Child (2022), became her first overall UK bestseller, displacing Richard Osman's The Man Who Died Twice.
Court often reflects on the perseverance required to achieve her success. She recalls rejection after rejection early in her career: "I could tell I was getting better; the feedback was getting kinder, and I was learning from every failure."
Dilly Court lives with her husband in Dorset on the Jurassic Coast. Her latest novel, Snow Angel, was published in September 2024.
Photo credit: FB @DillyCourtAuthor
years of life: 1940 – present
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