Diana Wynne Jones

Born:	August 16, 1934 London (England)
Occupation(s):	Novelist
Nationality:	British
Genre(s):	Fantasy
Website:	website

Diana Wynne Jones (born London August 16, 1934) is a British writer, principally of fantasy novels for children and adults, as well as a small amount of non-fiction. Some of her more well known works include the Chrestomanci series and the novels Howl's Moving Castle and Dark Lord of Derkholm. Image File history File links Dwjones. ... August 16 is the 228th day of the year (229th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1934 (MCMXXXIV) was a common year starting on Monday (link will take you to calendar). ... London (pronounced ) is the capital city of England and the United Kingdom. ... Motto: (French for God and my right) Anthem: Multiple unofficial anthems Capital London Largest city London Official language(s) English (de facto) Unification    - by Athelstan AD 927  Area    - Total 130,395 km² (1st in UK)   50,346 sq mi  Population    - 2005 est. ... Employment is a contract between two parties, one being the employer and the other being the employee. ... In English usage, nationality is the legal relationship between a person and a country. ... A literary genre is one of the divisions of literature into genres according to particular criteria such as literary technique, tone, or subject matter (content). ... haha For other meanings see Fantasy (disambiguation) Fantasy is a genre of art that uses magic and other supernatural forms as a primary element of plot, theme, or setting. ... London (pronounced ) is the capital city of England and the United Kingdom. ... August 16 is the 228th day of the year (229th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1934 (MCMXXXIV) was a common year starting on Monday (link will take you to calendar). ... haha For other meanings see Fantasy (disambiguation) Fantasy is a genre of art that uses magic and other supernatural forms as a primary element of plot, theme, or setting. ... // Basic characteristics There is some debate as to what constitutes childrens literature. ... Chrestomanci (pronounced: KREST-OH-MAN-SEE) is the title of a job held by at least two major characters in a series of fantasy novels by Diana Wynne Jones. ... Howls Moving Castle is a fantasy novel for young adults by British author Diana Wynne Jones, first published in 1986. ... The Dark Lord of Derkholm is a fantasy novel written by Diana Wynne Jones. ...

Biography

Jones was born in London on 16th August 1934, the daughter of Marjorie (neé Jackson) and Richard Aneurin Jones, both of whom were educators. When war was announced, shortly after her fifth birthday, she was evacuated to Wales, and thereafter moved several times, including periods in Coniston Water, York, and back in London. In 1943 her family finally settled in Thaxted, Essex, where her parents worked running an educational conference centre. There, Jones and her two younger sisters Isobel (later Professor Isobel Armstrong, the literary critic) and Ursula spent a neglected childhood in which they were left chiefly to their own devices. After attending the Friends’ School in Saffron Waldon, she studied English at St Anne’s College in Oxford, and where she attended lectures by both C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien before graduating in 1956. In the same year she married John Burrow, a scholar of mediaeval literature, with whom she has had three sons, Richard, Michael and Colin. After a brief period in London, in 1957 the couple returned to Oxford, where they stayed until moving to Bristol in 1976. London (pronounced ) is the capital city of England and the United Kingdom. ... Motto: (Welsh for Wales forever) Anthem: Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau Capital Cardiff Largest city Cardiff Official language(s) English, Welsh Government Constitutional monarchy  - Queen Queen Elizabeth II  - Prime Minister Tony Blair MP  - First Minister Rhodri Morgan AM Unification    - by Gruffudd ap Llywelyn 1056  Area    - Total 20,779 km² (3rd in... Coniston Water as seen from Holme Fell, 3 kilometres to the north. ... York is a city in Northern England, at the confluence of the Rivers Ouse and Foss. ... London (pronounced ) is the capital city of England and the United Kingdom. ... 1943 (MCMXLIII) was a common year starting on Friday (the link is to a full 1943 calendar). ... Oxford is a city and local government district in Oxfordshire, England, with a population of 134,248 (2001 census). ... Clive Staples Lewis (November 29, 1898 – November 22, 1963), commonly referred to as C. S. Lewis, was an author and scholar. ... J. R. R. Tolkien in 1916. ... 1956 (MCMLVI) was a leap year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1957 (MCMLVII) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Bristol (IPA: ) is a city, unitary authority and ceremonial county in South West England, 115 miles (185 km) west of London and located at With a population of 400,000, and metropolitan area of 550,000, it is Englands sixth, and the United Kingdoms ninth, most populous city... 1976 (MCMLXXVI) was a leap year starting on Thursday. ...

Jones' books range from a broad, almost slapstick delight in the construction of absurd-yet-logical situations (especially evident in the endings of some of her books), to sharp social observation, to witty parody of literary forms. Foremost amongst the latter are her Tough Guide to Fantasyland, and its fictional companion-pieces Dark Lord of Derkholm (1998) and The Year of the Griffin (2000), which provide a merciless (though not unaffectionate) critique of formulaic sword-and-sorcery epics.

The Harry Potter books are frequently compared to the works of Diana Wynne Jones. Many of her earlier children's books were out of print in recent years, and they are now being re-issued for the young audience whose interest in fantasy and reading was spurred by Harry Potter. Jones' works are also compared to those of Robin McKinley and Neil Gaiman. She is friends with Gaiman, and they are both fans of each others' work; she dedicated her novel Hexwood to him after something he said in a conversation inspired a key part of the plot. He repaid the compliment (somewhat cheekily) by dedicating his comic book mini-series The Books of Magic to "four witches", one of whom being Jones. The Harry Potter books are an extremely popular series of fantasy novels by British writer J. K. Rowling. ... Robin McKinley (born November 16, 1952 as Jennifer Carolyn Robin McKinley) is a fantasy author especially known for her Newbery Medal-winning novel The Hero and the Crown. ... Neil Richard Gaiman () (born November 10, 1960, Portchester, Hampshire) is a British author of numerous science fiction and fantasy works, including many graphic novels. ... Cover for the Italian edition of the series The Books of Magic is the title of four-issue comic book miniseries written by Neil Gaiman, and later an ongoing series, published by the DC Comics imprint Vertigo. ...

Charmed Life, the first book in the Chrestomanci series, won the 1977 Guardian Award for Children’s Books. Jones was runner-up for the Children’s Book Award in 1981, and was twice runner-up for the Carnegie Medal. In 1999, she won two major fantasy awards: the children’s section of the Mythopeic Award in the USA, and the Karl Edward Wagner Award in the UK, which is awarded by the British Fantasy Society to individuals or organisations who have made a significant impact on fantasy. Charmed Life may refer to: Charmed Life, a 1977 novel by Diana Wynne Jones Charmed Life, a 1990 album by Billy Idol Charmed Life, a 1997 film directed by Eugene Lo Charmed Life, a 1988 album by Half Japanese. ...

Her book Howl's Moving Castle was turned into a Japanese animated movie in 2004, by filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki. A version dubbed into English was released in the USA in 2005, with the voice of Howl performed by Christian Bale. Howls Moving Castle is a fantasy novel for young adults by British author Diana Wynne Jones, first published in 1986. ... 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Hayao Miyazaki (宮崎 駿, Miyazaki Hayao), born January 5, 1941 in Tokyo, is a director of Japanese animated films. ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Christian Charles Philip Bale (also known professionally as Christian Morgan Bale; born January 30, 1974) is an English[1] actor. ...

Her non-fiction work on writing fantastic fiction, The Tough Guide to Fantasyland, has a cult following as a reference among writers and critics, despite being difficult to find due to an erratic printing history. It was recently reissued in the UK, and has been reissued in the USA in 2006 by Firebird Books. The Firebird edition has additional material and a completely new design, including a new map. Firebird Books (launched January 2002) is an imprint of Penguin Group (USA) Inc. ...

In July 2006 she was awarded an honorary D.Litt from the University of Bristol.

Bibliography

Fiction

Chrestomanci series

In order of internal chronology: Chrestomanci (pronounced: KREST-OH-MAN-SEE) is the title of a job held by at least two major characters in a series of fantasy novels by Diana Wynne Jones. ...

1. The Lives of Christopher Chant [1988: Carnegie Medal Commended]
2. Conrad's Fate (2005)
3. Charmed Life [1977: Carnegie Medal Commended; 1978: Guardian Award; Preis der Leseratten (ZDF Schülerexpress, Germany)]
4. The Magicians of Caprona (1980)
5. The Pinhoe Egg (2006)

• Mixed Magics (short stories of varying internal dates)
• Witch Week (separate from other books in series, but set in same era as Charmed Life) (1982)

The Lives of Christopher Chant is a 1988 novel by Diana Wynne Jones. ... The Carnegie Medal in Literature was established in the UK in 1936 in honour of Andrew Carnegie. ... Cover of Conrads Fate The current version of the article or section reads like an advertisement. ... Charmed Life is a 1977 novel by British childrens author Diana Wynne Jones. ... The Carnegie Medal in Literature was established in the UK in 1936 in honour of Andrew Carnegie. ... The Guardian Childrens Fiction Prize or Guardian Award is a prominent award for works of childrens literature by British or Commonwealth authors, published in the UK during the preceding year. ... Cover of The Magicians of Caprona The Magicians of Caprona is a 1980 novel by Diana Wynne Jones. ... The Pinhoe Egg is a novel by Diana Wynne Jones published in 2006. ... First published in the United Kingdom in 1982 and in the United States of America in 1988, Witch Week is part of the Chrestomanci series of fantasy novels by Diana Wynne Jones. ...

Derkholm series

1. Dark Lord of Derkholm [1999: Mythopoeic Fantasy Award ] See also Jones' remarks on winning the award.
2. Year of the Griffin

The Dark Lord of Derkholm is a fantasy novel written by Diana Wynne Jones. ... The Mythopoeic Awards for literature and literary studies are given by the Mythopoeic Society to authors of outstanding works in the fields of myth, fantasy, and the scholarly study of these areas. ... Year of the Griffin is a 2000 novel by British childrens author Diana Wynne Jones. ...

Dalemark Quartet

1. Cart and Cwidder (1975)
2. Drowned Ammet (1977)
3. The Spellcoats (1979)
4. Crown of Dalemark (1993)

Cart and Cwidder is a fantasy novel for young adults by the British author Diana Wynne Jones. ... Drowned Ammet is a fantasy novel for young adults by British author Diana Wynne Jones. ... The Spellcoats (1979) is the third published novel in Diana Wynne Joness Dalemark Quartet, but chronologically the first. ... The Crown of Dalemark is a 2001 fantasy novel by Dianna Wynne Jones. ...

Castle series

1. Howl's Moving Castle 1986: Honor book for the Boston Globe-Horn Book Award
2. Castle in the Air 1992: Mythopoeic Fantasy Award, nominated

Howls Moving Castle is a fantasy novel for young adults by British author Diana Wynne Jones, first published in 1986. ... The Boston Globe–Horn Book Awards were first presented by The Boston Globe and Horn Book Magazine in 1967. ... First published in the US in 1991, Castle in the Air returns to Ingary, the setting for Howls Moving Castle, though the two works are only loosely related. ... The Mythopoeic Awards for literature and literary studies are given by the Mythopoeic Society to authors of outstanding works in the fields of myth, fantasy, and the scholarly study of these areas. ...

Magids series

• Deep Secret (marketed to adults)
• The Merlin Conspiracy

Deep Secret is a 1997 novel by Diana Wynne Jones. ... The Merlin Conspiracy was written by Diana Wynne Jones. ...

Miscellaneous

• Archer's Goon [1984: Boston Globe - Horn Book Honor Book; World Fantasy Award for Best Novel nominee]
• Black Maria (UK Title) / Aunt Maria (US Title)
• "Chair Person" in Stopping for a Spell
• Changeover
• Dogsbody [1975: Carnegie Medal Commended]
• Eight Days of Luke (1975)
• Fire and Hemlock [1986: Mythopoeic Fantasy Award, nominated]
• "The Four Grannies" in Stopping for a Spell
• Hexwood
• The Homeward Bounders
• "I'll Give You My Word" in Firebirds Rising
• "Little Dot" in Firebirds
• Minor Arcana (short stories) [1996: British Fantasy Award, nominated]
• The Ogre Downstairs
• Power of Three [1977: Guardian Award Commended; Silberner Griffel (Netherlands)]
• Puss in Boots
• A Sudden Wild Magic (marketed to adults) [1996: British Fantasy Award, nominated]
• A Tale of Time City
• The Time of the Ghost
• "Who Got Rid of Angus Flint?" in Stopping for a Spell
• Wild Robert
• Wilkins' Tooth (UK Title) / Witch's Business (US Title)
• Yes, Dear (picture book)

Archers Goon was a 1984 fantasy novel by Diana Wynne Jones both for the young adult and adult markets. ... This World Fantasy Award is given to the fantasy novel or novels voted best by a panel of judges, and presented each year at the World Fantasy Convention. ... Cover of Dogsbody Dogsbody is a 1975 childrens novel by Diana Wynne Jones. ... The Carnegie Medal in Literature was established in the UK in 1936 in honour of Andrew Carnegie. ... Eight Days of Luke is a 1975 childrens novel by Diana Wynne Jones. ... 1975 (MCMLXXV) was a common year starting on Wednesday. ... This article needs to be wikified. ... The Mythopoeic Awards for literature and literary studies are given by the Mythopoeic Society to authors of outstanding works in the fields of myth, fantasy, and the scholarly study of these areas. ... The Homeward Bounders is a fantasy novel by Diana Wynne Jones with the chilling premise that there is a vast series of parallel universes, all of which serve as the game-boards for a race of demons that delight in war-games and fantasy-games. ... Firebirds: An Anthology of Original Fantasy and Science Fiction is an award-winning[1] collection of short stories for young adults written by authors associated with Firebird Books, released on that imprint in 2003. ... Power of Three Power of Three is a book written by the author Diana Wynne Jones in the year 1976. ... The Guardian Childrens Fiction Prize or Guardian Award is a prominent award for works of childrens literature by British or Commonwealth authors, published in the UK during the preceding year. ... A Tale of Time City is a 1987 novel by British childrens author Diana Wynne Jones. ... The Time of the Ghost is a 1981 novel by British childrens author Diana Wynne Jones. ...

Collections

• Believing is Seeing
• Everard's Ride
• Fantasy Stories (editor)
• Hidden Turnings (editor)
• Minor Arcana
• Stopping for a Spell
• Unexpected Magic
• Warlock at the Wheel and Other Stories (contains two Chrestomanci stories, both also in Mixed Magics)

Chrestomanci (pronounced: KREST-OH-MAN-SEE) is the title of a job held by at least two major characters in a series of fantasy novels by Diana Wynne Jones. ...

Non-Fiction or Poetry

• "A Slice of Life" in Now We Are Sick
• The Medusa article in which Jones discuss her opinions of adult literature as opposed to children's literature.
• "The Shape of the Narrative in The Lord of The Rings" in the collection Everard's Ride
• The Skiver's Guide
• The Tough Guide To Fantasyland [1997: Hugo Awardfor Nonfiction, nominated] World Fantasy Award Finalist

The Tough Guide To Fantasyland is a book by Diana Wynne Jones that humorously examines the common tropes of a broad swathe of fantasy fiction. ... The 2005 Hugo Award with base designed by Deb Kosiba. ... Winners of the Hugo Award for best non-fiction book. ... First awarded in 1975, the World Fantasy Awards are handed out annually at the World Fantasy Convention (WFC) to recognize outstanding achievement in the field of fantasy. ...

Books About DWJ

• Diana Wynne Jones - An Exciting and Exacting Wisdom [2002] edited by Rosenberg, et al.

External links

• Diana Wynne Jones official website
• Bibliography on SciFan
• Diana Wynne Jones Wiki (no connection with Wikipedia)
• An interview with the BBC
• Diana Wynne Jones at the Internet Speculative Fiction Database