Dorothy Gilman (1923–2012)
Author of The Unexpected Mrs. Pollifax
About the Author
Dorothy Gilman was born in New Brunswick, New Jersey on June 25, 1923. She studied at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts. Under her married name, Dorothy Gilman Butters, she began publishing children's books in the late 1940s including Enchanted Caravan and The Bells of Freedom. In 1966, she show more published The Unexpected Mrs. Pollifax, which became the first novel in the Mrs. Pollifax Mystery series. The series concluded in 2000 with Mrs. Pollifax Unveiled. The series was the basis of two movies: the 1971 feature film Mrs. Pollifax - Spy starring Rosalind Russell and the 1999 television movie The Unexpected Mrs. Pollifax starring Angela Lansbury. Her other works include The Clairvoyant Countess, Incident at Badamya and Kaleidoscope. A Nun in the Closet won a Catholic Book Award. She died due to complications of Alzheimer's disease on February 2, 2012 at the age of 88. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
Image credit: Unattributed photo at BasicFamousPeople.com
Series
Works by Dorothy Gilman
The Unexpected Mrs. Pollifax | The Amazing Mrs. Pollifax | The Elusive Mrs. Pollifax (1993) 91 copies
A Palm for Mrs. Pollifax | Mrs. Pollifax on Safari | Mrs. Pollifax on the China Station (1991) 58 copies
Mrs. Pollifax and the Second Thief | Mrs. Pollifax Pursued | Mrs. Pollifax and the Lion Killer | Mrs. Pollifax,… (1995) 50 copies
The Unexpected Mrs. Pollifax | The Amazing Mrs. Pollifax | A Palm for Mrs. Pollifax | Mrs. Pollifax on Safari (1985) 48 copies
Masquerade 3 copies
Mrs. Pollifax and the Hong Kong Buddha / Mrs. Pollifax and the Golden Triangle / Mrs. Pollifax on the China Station /… (1970) 3 copies
The bells of freedom 1 copy
Author Dorothy Gilman Twelve (12) Book Bundle Collection Set Includes:Mrs. Pollifax On Safari - Mrs. Pollifax On The… (1977) 1 copy
Surprising Antonia 1 copy
Associated Works
Reader's Digest Condensed Books: The Seventh Secret • Arnie • A House Full of Company (1986) — Contributor; Contributor; Contributor — 25 copies
Reader's Digest Condensed Books 1988 v01 (1988) — Contributor; Contributor; Contributor; Contributor — 18 copies
Reader's Digest Auswahlbücher 74 - Weisse Dämmerung. Ein Mädchen auf dem Meeresgrund. Lorbeer für die Besiegten.… (1972) 12 copies
Reader's Digest Condensed Books: To Catch a King • But There Are Always Miracles • Shadow of the Moon • The… (1980) 7 copies
Reader's Digest Condensed Books: Jaws • A Palm for Mrs. Pollifax • The Fearful Void • Pied Piper • End Play (1974) 6 copies
Livros Condensados: Comboio-Bala | A Busca de Johnnie | Sol da Pérsia | A Comenda de Mrs Pollifax (1991) — Author — 6 copies
Reader's Digest Auswahlbücher 199 : Das fremde Gesicht. Tochter der Sonne. Im Fadenkreuz der Angst. Mrs. Pollifax und… (1995) 5 copies
Reader's Digest Condensed Books: As the Crow Flies • Hard Fall • Mrs. Pollifax and the Whirling Dervish • Hunter… (1991) — Contributor — 5 copies
Elenis Kinder - Lawrence, Ron D: Der weisse Puma - Llewellyn, Sam: Schuss in die Sonne - Gilman, Dorothy: Mrs. Pollifax… (1992) 5 copies
Reader's Digest Best Sellers: The Eagle Has Flown / Mrs. Pollifax and the Whirling Dervish (1900) — Contributor — 5 copies
Livros Condensados: O Cliente | Rios de Ouro | Mrs. Pollifax e o Segundo Ladrão | Até à Vista (1995) — Contributor — 5 copies
Reader's Digest Auswahlbücher: Der weisse Hai 2. Mrs. Pollifax auf Safari. Olivers Story. Am Ende der Flut. (1978) — Contributor; Contributor — 3 copies
Salz im Kaffee. - Bredow, Ilse G von: Kartoffeln mit Stippe. - Higgins, Jack: Königsjagd. - Gilman, Dorothy: Das… (1981) 3 copies
Livros Condensados: O Testamento | Navegando Pelas Estrelas | O Rapto | A Casa Misteriosa (2001) 3 copies
Det Bästas Bokval (1995) vol 183 : Pengars onda makt; Hårda bud; Miraklet i öknen; Mrs Pollifax och den andra tjuven — Author — 3 copies
Livros Condensados: Aguía No Céu | Vierama Para Sempre | Dois Amigos | A Incrível Mrs. Pollifax — Contributor — 3 copies
Kirjavaliot - Mengelen pojat (The boys from Brazil) / Luottamustehtävä (Trustee from the toolroom) / Suden sukua (The… (1980) 3 copies
Newfield Mystery Suspense Collection: Original Sin / Mrs. Pollifax Pursued / Dead, Mr Mozart — Contributor — 3 copies
Het Beste Boek 133: Kapitein Marie / Herinneringen van een onzichtbare man / Mevrouw Pollifax en de gouden driehoek /… (1988) 3 copies
Kirjavaliot - Erehdysten yö (Night of error) ∙ Ilveskissa (The crossbreed) ∙ Kauniita unia rouva Hunter (The deep… (1987) 3 copies
Reader's Digest Auswahlbücher 171 - Daddy / Gorillas im Nebel / Rückenflug / Mrs. Pollifax und das Goldene Dreieck (1990) 3 copies
Reader's Digest Auswahlbücher 91 - Harlekin. Mrs. Pollifax macht weiter. Mystische Jagd. Der Engel mit der Posaune (1975) 3 copies
Het Beste Boek 149: Daddy / Grazige weiden, vruchtbaar land / Tsoenami! / Mevrouw Pollifax en de dansende derwisj (1991) 3 copies
De vos, de hond en... de man; Papillon; Keerpunt in een jongensleven; De spionne met het hoedje — Author — 2 copies
Reader's Digest Auswahlbücher 151 - Red Fox. Ein Junge namens Bracken. Die Uhr aus der Seife. Mrs. Pollifax und der… (1987) 2 copies
Det bästas bokval : ecken i skyn; Att höra gräset växa...; Mrs Pollifax i Kina; Prövningen — Contributor — 2 copies
RDCBLP Mrs. Pollifax on the China Station | The Last Gas Station | The Girl of the Sea of Cortez 2 copies
Het Beste Boek 169: Frederik Hendrik en Amalia van Solms / Mevrouw Pollifax en de tweede dief / De zwarte dood / Kai… (1994) 2 copies
Det Bästas Bokval (2001) vol 214 : Dollar; Hoppets färg är vit; Sista satsningen; Salvia och makterna — Author — 2 copies
Reader's Digest Condensed Books: The Devil's Alternative • The Education of Little Tree • The Tightrope Walker •… — Author — 2 copies
RDCBLP Mrs. Pollifax and the Second Thief | Our Summer Visitor | Riding the White Horse Home (1994) — Contributor — 2 copies
Mysteries by Female Authors: Margin of Error / Mrs. Pollifax and the Lion Killer / The Cereal Murders [Abridged Audio… (2002) — Contributor — 1 copy
Il settimo segreto - Richiamo selvaggio - Una voce al telefono - La signora Pollifax e il Budda di Hong Kog — Contributor — 1 copy
Selecciones de la Narrativa Mundial del Reader's Digest. Nº 18: La Volatinera. Nena. Avurnave — Contributor — 1 copy
Readers Digest Condensed Books: The Odessa File, The Waltz Kings, Rendezvous South Atlantic, The Unexpected Mrs… (1972) 1 copy
Sélection du Livre No. 76 : (1) Au nom de tous les miens - (2) Opération Sippacik - (3) Course contre la vie - (4) Le… — Contributor — 1 copy
Livros Condensados: A Chave De Rebeca; O Safari De Mrs. Pollifax; Um Dia Feliz; Malevil — Contributor — 1 copy
Det Bedstes Bøger: Min smukke pige sover, Redningshunden, Hvis lille pige er du, Mrs. Pollifax i ilden (1992) 1 copy
Het Beste Boek: Je koninkrijk, liefste; Vlammen in de nacht; De onstuitbare mevrouw Pollifax; Het ridderkruis — Contributor — 1 copy
Reader's Digest Condensed Books: The Client • Home Ground • Elephant Song • Mrs. Pollifax and the Second Thief (1994) 1 copy
Reader's Digest Condensed Book: Mrs. Pollifax and the Golden Triangle — Contributor — 1 copy
The Unexpected Mrs. Pollifax [1999 TV movie] — Original book — 1 copy
Livros Condensados: A ilha do medo / Para sempres / Reação em cadeia / O solar da tia Harriet — Contributor — 1 copy
Reader's Digest Auswahlbücher 76 - Der Mann auf der Kanzel, Die Ausreisser, Ernstfall 1000, Mrs. Pollifax lebt… (1973) 1 copy
Het Beste Boek: Een lintje voor Mevrouw Pollifax; De inspecteur; Menfreya in de morgen; De dertiende maan — Author — 1 copy
Readers Digest: Den skjulte kvinde, Papillon, Den ukuelige mrs. Pollifax, Kim - en gave fra Vietnam (1971) — Author — 1 copy
Selecciones del Reader's Digest 1972: La sorprendente señora Pollifax, Vientos de guerra, La aurora blanca (1973) — Contributor — 1 copy
Tagged
Common Knowledge
- Legal name
- Gilman Butters, Dorothy
- Other names
- Butters, Dorothy Gilman
- Birthdate
- 1923-06-25
- Date of death
- 2012-02-02
- Gender
- female
- Nationality
- USA
- Birthplace
- New Brunswick, New Jersey, USA
- Place of death
- Rye Brook, New York, USA
- Places of residence
- Norwalk, Connecticut, USA
Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
Portland, Maine, USA - Education
- Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (1940-1945)
University of Pennsylvania (1963-64)
Art Students League of New York - Occupations
- art teacher
creative writing teacher
spy novelist
children's book author
novelist - Organizations
- Authors Guild
- Awards and honors
- MWA Grand Master (2010|Mystery Writers of America)
- Short biography
- Dorothy Edith Gilman was born in New Brunswick, NJ, the daughter of James Bruce, a minister, and Essa (Starkweather) Gilman, and said she decided on a writing career as a child. She attended university as well as fine art schools and became an art teacher and an instructor in creative writing. In 1945, she married Edgar Butters, Jr., a teacher; the couple had two children before divorcing in 1965. Under her married name, Dorothy Gilman Butters, she began publishing children’s books in the late 1940s.
The New York Times said in her obituary: "[Her] best-known heroine, Mrs. Pollifax, is very likely the only spy in literature to belong simultaneously to the Central Intelligence Agency and the local garden club."
The Unexpected Mrs. Pollifax (1966) was the first novel in what would become a highly popular 14-book series about Mrs. Emily Pollifax, a bored 60-something retired grandmother in search of a bit of adventure in an otherwise mundane life.
Members
Reviews
A very unusual sort of cold war spy thriller from 1969. Emily Pollifax is a widow in her sixties, feeling bored and depressed about not having anything interesting to do with her life now that her children are all grown. Perhaps now is the time to chase the unfulfilled dreams of her youth? She did have fantasies, once upon a time, about being a secret agent. So she presents herself at CIA headquarters and volunteers her services. And, wouldn't you know, thanks to an unusual set of circumstances, they just happen to need someone who fits her exact profile for a very simple, low-risk mission... which, of course, doesn't go quite according to plan.
It's a silly premise, but fun. The plot isn't in itself super compelling (although it does end in a pleasantly satisfying way), but the main character is so appealing that she effortlessly carries the story all by herself. She's just such a great combination of an everywoman whose reactions to her situations are immediately relatable (like just really, really, really wanting a bath after multiple days in captivity) and a surprisingly impressive and admirable person: formidable, practical, adaptable, intelligent, and oh-so-easy to underestimate. Honestly, I was already fond of her five pages in, and I only grew more so the more I saw of her.… (more)
It's a silly premise, but fun. The plot isn't in itself super compelling (although it does end in a pleasantly satisfying way), but the main character is so appealing that she effortlessly carries the story all by herself. She's just such a great combination of an everywoman whose reactions to her situations are immediately relatable (like just really, really, really wanting a bath after multiple days in captivity) and a surprisingly impressive and admirable person: formidable, practical, adaptable, intelligent, and oh-so-easy to underestimate. Honestly, I was already fond of her five pages in, and I only grew more so the more I saw of her.… (more)
Gilman states some important things very plainly and cleanly - she's a great advocate for simplicity and autonomy. The book could be more tightly focused, and I was repulsed by one chapter of total New Age gibberish, but the book makes a short and sweet antidote to consumerism.
A young woman seeks justice based on the flimsiest of clues to the people involved in the wrong-doing. I was captivated by this old-fashioned style of telling a story in a way that draws on the characters and their actions. There's a mystery, a mild romance, and lots of suspense and adventure. An excellent tale of the MC becoming a confident adult.
Lists
Awards
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Statistics
- Works
- 51
- Also by
- 80
- Members
- 16,955
- Popularity
- #1,312
- Rating
- 3.8
- Reviews
- 412
- ISBNs
- 473
- Languages
- 6
- Favorited
- 40
Almost before she knows it, she finds herself in Mexico City and this is where things start to go pear-shaped. She and another CIA agent are captured and spirited to a prison cell in Albania. Mrs. Pollifax then shows her true colors, she never gives up, always looks to the positive and actually enjoys meeting new people.
Of course the story is highly unbelievable, but the author has supplied a great setting and some wonderful characters so while you are reading the book, you fully accept what is happening. Mrs. Pollifax is the spy that we all wish we could be and I am already looking forward to her next adventure.… (more)