Diana Wynne Jones
, 1934 - 2011
An acclaimed and influential writer of fantasy fiction, Diana Wynne Jones was born in London in 1934. Her parents were both teachers, and both of her sisters also went on to literary careers, one as a writer, the other as an academic and critic. Jones studied at Oxford University in the 1950s, attending lectures by CS Lewis and JRR Tolkien. She began writing stories in the mid-1960s while her three sons were still very young. Her first book, Changeover (1970), was intended for adult readers, but she soon began writing for children. Over the next four decades she published more than forty books, including The Chrestomanci series (1977- 2006) and Howl’s Moving Castle (1986), which was adapted into an animated film in 2004 and has a cult following. Jones’ work typically features elements of magic, science fiction and time travel, and is speculative and self-conscious. The Tough Guide to Fantasyland (1996) is a parody of the tropes and standard elements of the fantasy genre. Her books have received numerous awards and prizes, and Jones was recognised for the significance of her contribution to fantasy literature. Many other leading fantasy writers, including Neil Gaiman, Terry Prachett and JK Rowling, have acknowledged the influence of her work.
Sources:
Profile at Brittanica (accessed: September 13, 2019).
Profile at independent.co.uk (accessed: September 13, 2019).
Profile at theguardian.com (accessed: September 13, 2019).
Bio prepared by Miriam Riverlea, University of New England, mriverlea@gmail.com
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