Fifty years after Jan Morris published her memoir 'Conundrum', her son Mark reflects on the woman who was once his father. The book, which detailed her gender reassignment, brought transgender identity into the public eye at a time when understanding was minimal.
James Morris, before becoming Jan, was a celebrated journalist who scooped the world on the 1953 Everest expedition. He later became a renowned travel writer and historian. His transition in 1972 was documented in 'Conundrum', which Mark describes as a seminal trans work.
The book faced both praise and criticism. Germaine Greer and Rebecca West were among those who attacked it. A BBC interview with Robin Day was described by Day himself as displaying 'collective brutality'. Yet the book's eloquent prose and Morris's established reputation gave it authority.
Mark notes that in 1974, homosexuality had only been legal for seven years in the UK, and trans issues were virtually unknown. 'Conundrum' helped change perceptions, though Morris herself avoided becoming an activist, preferring to be seen simply as a woman.
Morris died in 2020, but her legacy endures. Her son remembers her as a flawed but remarkable person, and the book as a 'small but profound' force for change.
