Derek Jarman (1942-1994) had an extraordinarily wide ranging career, in many different fields. His films were awarded prizes at several international film festivals. By the time of his death he was, in Britain, a well-known public figure, uncompromising and combative in his struggle against media and political homophobia. His work had earned him world wide applause and respect. As a writer he had published not only his film scripts but also a series of formally innovative works of “autobiographical collage” and journals in which he reinvented himself and his life story over and over again.

Jarman's adored mother was born in India. She appears as a central figure in the personal mythology which Jarman elaborated in some of his fi

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First published 21 March 2002

Citation: Mepham, John. "Derek Jarman". The Literary Encyclopedia. 21 March 2002.
[http://www.litencyc.com/php/speople.php?rec=true&UID=2347, accessed 9 February 2010.]