Kate Morton
Author of The Forgotten Garden
About the Author
Kate Morton was born in South Australia in 1976. She earned a degree in speech and drama from Trinity College London, an English literature degree from the University of Queensland, and a master's degree focusing on tragedy in Victorian literature from the University of Queensland. She also show more completed a summer Shakespeare course at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London. She is currently enrolled in a Ph.D. program researching contemporary novels that marry elements of gothic and mystery fiction. She won the Australian Book Industry Award for General Fiction Book of the Year in 2007 for her debut novel, The Shifting Fog, also known as The House at Riverton. Her other books include The Distant Hours, and The Forgotten Garden, which won the Australian Book Industry Award for General Fiction Book of the Year in 2009. Her books The Secret Keeper and The Lake House were New York Times bestsellers. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
Works by Kate Morton
Associated Works
Drawing the Greek Vase: Classical Reception Between Art and Archaeology (2023) — Contributor — 3 copies
Tagged
Common Knowledge
- Other names
- Мортон, Кейт
- Birthdate
- 1976
- Gender
- female
- Education
- University of Queensland ( English Literature)
- Occupations
- novelist
- Awards and honors
- NY Times Best Selling Author
Sunday Times Best Selling Author - Agent
- Selwa Anthony (Selwa Anthony Author Management)
- Relationships
- Patterson, Davin (husband)
Patterson, Henry (son)
Patterson, Oliver (son)
Patterson, Louis (son) - Short biography
- KATE MORTON grew up in the mountains of south-east Queensland and lives now with her husband and three young sons in Brisbane. She has degrees in dramatic art and English literature, specialising in nineteenth-century tragedy and contemporary gothic novels. Kate harboured dreams of joining the Royal Shakespeare Company until she became sidetracked writing novels, and still feels a pang of longing each time she goes to the theatre and the house lights dim.
Kate used to hide to read when she was small, and still believes that reading should be so pleasurable it feels almost illicit. Her favourite novels are the sort that you can disappear inside, and the thing she most likes hearing from readers is that they stayed up far too late turning pages.
Kate Morton has sold over 10 million copies in 26 languages, across 42 countries. The House at Riverton, The Forgotten Garden, The Distant Hours, The Secret Keeper and The Lake House have all been number one bestsellers around the world. - Nationality
- Australia
- Birthplace
- Berri, South Australia, Australia
- Places of residence
- Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Tambourine Mountain, Queensland, Australia
Berri, South Australia, Australia
London, England, UK - Associated Place (for map)
- Australia
Members
Discussions
Found: Mystery novel: elderly women in historic old house in Name that Book (February 2021)
SK 39: De Vergeten Tuin - Kate Morton in FF-Leesclub Forum (March 2011)
Reviews
As a little girl, Nell was found alone on a dock in Australia and taken in by a dockmaster and his wife. After her death, her granddaughter, Cassandra, learns this family secret and sets forth to finish what Nell started - the hunt for her true identity. This is a family saga, a mystery, and a tragic fairy tale all in one. I could not put this down, and I had to keep reading to find out the truth behind Nell's abandonment. Morton writes gorgeously, and lushly, and fully pulled me into the show more world she created. I loved how the story jumps between the present day and points in the past. I'm definitely going to have to hunt out some of Morton's other books.
I just wish Eliza's book of fairy tales is real so I can read it. show less
I just wish Eliza's book of fairy tales is real so I can read it. show less
From LibraryThing.com theoclarke: This was a slow burn with a disappointing ending but the writing style is so skilful that I was entranced once I passed the first chapter. Had I not had such glowing reports of the novel, I would have abandoned it after the first chapter but the richly drawn characters, the strong sense of place evoked by each description, and the intriguing mysteries drew me in. The ending is a little too dependent on coincidence but it is no deus ex machina.
Like The Secret Keeper, this is a meaty book, one that develops slowly and beautifully. It's not the type of book you can devour in a couple of sittings, but for me, time disappeared as I was reading it. I was always rather annoyed when I looked at my clock after what felt like a few minutes and saw that it was past my bedtime. Again.
And it's no wonder I loved this book; Kate Morton does a lot of things excellently: her characters (despite the large cast of characters, they were all distinct show more and interesting), weaving from past to present to a less-distant past seamlessly, a touch of romance, a juicy family mystery that takes three generations to uncover. I also loved the Secret Garden familiarity and, of course, the fairy tales. show less
And it's no wonder I loved this book; Kate Morton does a lot of things excellently: her characters (despite the large cast of characters, they were all distinct show more and interesting), weaving from past to present to a less-distant past seamlessly, a touch of romance, a juicy family mystery that takes three generations to uncover. I also loved the Secret Garden familiarity and, of course, the fairy tales. show less
I have been eagerly awaiting the release of The Secret Keeper – and not terribly patiently. I entered every competition I could find to try and win a copy (otherwise, I knew that my mum would buy it for Christmas - or worse my birthday – and I would have to wait simply eons to read it). Luckily, the excellent folks at The Reading Room and Allen & Unwin kindly chose me to receive a proof copy. After texting Mum to tell her I didn’t need this for Christmas, I sat down and read. Forget show more dinner, forget chores. This is a book that stops your world!
I’ve always enjoyed Kate Morton’s books, in particular The Shifting Fog (interestingly renamed The House of Riverton apparently because UK readers don’t like books involving fog) and The Forgotten Garden. I didn’t enjoy The Distant Hours quite as much but The Secret Keeper sees her return to top-notch form in my opinion.
Morton is often referred to in interviews that I’ve read as having a Gothic flavour. I’d disagree with that in the traditional sense – it’s not about dusty attics (much), creepy servants on the fringe, madness or eerie old houses (much). I’d describe this book as being more mysterious in terms of secrets, history and unfolding the past through various layers. It won’t scare the pants off you, but you will look a little drained after ‘just one more chapter’ over several nights!
The plot, like Morton’s other novels, involves multiple time periods. The main character is Laurel, and we first see her in the early 1960s, witnessing a gruesome scene involving her mother and a stranger. Jump forward to the present, as Laurel’s mother is dying and Laurel is now a famous actress. Laurel wants to know more about that fateful day and what it all meant. As Laurel discovers pieces of evidence about her mother’s time in World War II London, the reader is taken back there to experience what Laurel’s mother was up to. The book ticks along beautifully – the Blitz experiences being incredibly interesting – and I found myself wondering what the big secret was about. Then, bam! Morton packs an incredible punch and I immediately wanted to go back and reread the book to see if I could detect the big secret. (I couldn’t though because my friend demanded to read it!) For the amazing twist in the plot alone, this book is incredibly good. Add in the beautifully descriptive and evocative writing and you have a worthy bestseller.
Are there any negative about this book? Well, I thought the pace slowed a little before the big plot reveal (coincidently, just as my own schedule got busier). I would have also liked to know a little more about Laurel’s sisters and what made them so different, but that would be extraneous to the plot. But apart from that, it’s brilliant. I really enjoy books that move between past and present, talking about the everyday person experiencing extraordinary events.
I’d just like to warn Allen and Unwin in advance that I will be camping on your doorstep for the next Kate Morton book!
http://samstillreading.wordpress.com show less
I’ve always enjoyed Kate Morton’s books, in particular The Shifting Fog (interestingly renamed The House of Riverton apparently because UK readers don’t like books involving fog) and The Forgotten Garden. I didn’t enjoy The Distant Hours quite as much but The Secret Keeper sees her return to top-notch form in my opinion.
Morton is often referred to in interviews that I’ve read as having a Gothic flavour. I’d disagree with that in the traditional sense – it’s not about dusty attics (much), creepy servants on the fringe, madness or eerie old houses (much). I’d describe this book as being more mysterious in terms of secrets, history and unfolding the past through various layers. It won’t scare the pants off you, but you will look a little drained after ‘just one more chapter’ over several nights!
The plot, like Morton’s other novels, involves multiple time periods. The main character is Laurel, and we first see her in the early 1960s, witnessing a gruesome scene involving her mother and a stranger. Jump forward to the present, as Laurel’s mother is dying and Laurel is now a famous actress. Laurel wants to know more about that fateful day and what it all meant. As Laurel discovers pieces of evidence about her mother’s time in World War II London, the reader is taken back there to experience what Laurel’s mother was up to. The book ticks along beautifully – the Blitz experiences being incredibly interesting – and I found myself wondering what the big secret was about. Then, bam! Morton packs an incredible punch and I immediately wanted to go back and reread the book to see if I could detect the big secret. (I couldn’t though because my friend demanded to read it!) For the amazing twist in the plot alone, this book is incredibly good. Add in the beautifully descriptive and evocative writing and you have a worthy bestseller.
Are there any negative about this book? Well, I thought the pace slowed a little before the big plot reveal (coincidently, just as my own schedule got busier). I would have also liked to know a little more about Laurel’s sisters and what made them so different, but that would be extraneous to the plot. But apart from that, it’s brilliant. I really enjoy books that move between past and present, talking about the everyday person experiencing extraordinary events.
I’d just like to warn Allen and Unwin in advance that I will be camping on your doorstep for the next Kate Morton book!
http://samstillreading.wordpress.com show less
Lists
Summer Books (1)
FAB 2024 (1)
READ 2025 (1)
READ in 2024 (1)
Netgalley Reads (1)
Unread books (1)
Five star books (2)
Which house? (2)
Great Audiobooks (3)
el (2)
England (2)
Female Author (1)
First Novels (1)
Garden-fiction (1)
To Read (1)
Carole's List (1)
Secret Histories (1)
Awards
You May Also Like
Associated Authors
Statistics
- Works
- 18
- Also by
- 3
- Members
- 31,045
- Popularity
- #637
- Rating
- 3.9
- Reviews
- 1,578
- ISBNs
- 706
- Languages
- 22
- Favorited
- 111
