Jan Morris

1926 - 2020
Courage, Integrity and Open-mindedness

”What was important was the liberty of us all to live as we wished to live, to love however we wanted to love, and to know ourselves, however peculiar, disconcerting or unclassifiable.”

Who Am I?

Jan Morris was a British journalist, travel writer and historian. However, her greatest journey was not across our planet, but between two identities: from reporter and writer James Morris to intrepid traveller and writer Jan Morris. In 1972, James travelled to Morocco to undergo sex reassignment surgery. He became Jan at a time when sex change surgery was not openly discussed and was not allowed in Britain due to Morris being married.

What Am I Known For?

As James, in 1953, Morris was part of a British expedition to Mount Everest that made the first-ever confirmed climb of the mountain. Jan wrote about wars, famines and earthquakes, but her most revealing piece of writing was Conundrums, a book about her decision to undergo transition surgery. During her career, Jan won many prestigious awards and recognitions for her contributions to literature. She never shied away from being open and honest, even if that meant she would be criticised or ostracised.

How About You?

One brilliant way to develop your open-mindedness is to read stories about people who are different to you. Perhaps they feature people from different families and backgrounds, or perhaps they live in different parts of the world and believe different things. The next time you choose a book to read, challenge yourself to be open-minded!

Are you willing to stand up for what you believe in, even if it might attract criticism?

Other Amazing People (you can find them on the website)

David Livingstone, Ibn Battuta and Amy Johnson were also great travellers, and they feature on our site. You can read their stories, listen to the audios, explore their timelines and answer the questions on their quizzes.

Other Useful Resources (available on the website)

Find out about other Amazing LGBT+ Achievers in our Diverse Voices resource.

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Photo: Faber & Faber book cover