After World War II, she moved to London to pursue higher education, attending Bedford College and subsequently working in various book-related roles.

Fellow authors, including Ian McEwan, praised Gardam's work, with Maggie Gee describing her writing as vibrant and wise.

Jane Gardam, the acclaimed author known for her works 'Old Filth' and 'The Hollow Land', has passed away at the age of 96, as confirmed by her publisher.

Born in 1928 in Redcar, Yorkshire, Gardam was inspired by her mother's love for writing, which fueled her own passion for storytelling.

Gardam began writing seriously after her children started school and married barrister David Gardam, whose career inspired a character in her novel 'Old Filth'.

Over her 50-year literary career, Gardam earned an OBE in 2009 for her significant contributions to literature.

Her last novel, 'Last Friends', published in 2013, concluded a trilogy that began with 'Old Filth', which was nominated for the Folio Prize in 2014.

Her children's book 'The Hollow Land' won the Whitbread Prize in 1981, while her novel 'The Queen of the Tambourine' received the same honor in 1991.

As one of the first authors published by the Abacus imprint of Little, Brown, her publisher noted her warmth and irreplaceable wisdom.

'Old Filth' was recognized as one of the BBC's 100 greatest British novels in 2015, solidifying Gardam's legacy in literature.

Gardam was nominated for several prestigious awards, including the Booker Prize and the Orange Prize, and uniquely won the Whitbread Prize in both children's and adult categories.