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Diana Wynne Jones

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Diana Wynne Jones
Born(1934-08-16)16 August 1934
London, England
Died26 March 2011(2011-03-26) (aged 76)
Bristol, England
OccupationNovelist
EducationSt Anne's College, Oxford
GenreScience fiction, speculative fiction, children's, fantasy, comic fantasy
SubjectFantasy fiction, science fiction, surrealism
Literary movementPostmodernism
Years active1968–2011
Notable works
Notable awardsGuardian Prize
1978
Mythopoeic Award
1996, 1999
Karl Edward Wagner Award
1999
World Fantasy Award for Life Achievement
2007

Diana Wynne Jones (16 August 1934 – 26 March 2011)[1] was an English novelist, poet, academic, literary critic, and short story writer. She principally wrote fantasy and speculative fiction novels for children and young adults. Although usually described as fantasy, some of her work also incorporates science fiction themes and elements of realism. Jones's work often explores themes of time travel and parallel or multiple universes. Some of her better-known works are the Chrestomanci series, the Dalemark series, the three Moving Castle novels, Dark Lord of Derkholm, and The Tough Guide to Fantasyland.

Jones has been cited as an inspiration and muse for several fantasy and science fiction authors including Philip Pullman, Terry Pratchett, Penelope Lively, Robin McKinley, Dina Rabinovitch, Megan Whalen Turner, J.K. Rowling and Neil Gaiman, with Gaiman describing her as "quite simply the best writer for children of her generation".[2][3][4][5] Her work has been nominated for several awards. She was twice a finalist for the Hugo Award, nominated fourteen times for the Locus Award, seven times for the Mythopoeic Award (which she won twice), twice for a British Fantasy Award (won in 1999), and twice for a World Fantasy Award, which she won in 2007.

Early life and marriage

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Jones was born in London, the daughter of Marjorie (née Jackson) and Richard Aneurin Jones, both of whom were teachers.[6] When war was announced, shortly after her fifth birthday, she was evacuated to Pontarddulais in Wales where her grandfather was a minister at a chapel. She did not live long in Wales due to a family dispute,[7] and thereafter moved several times, including periods in the Lake District, in York, and back to London. In 1943 her family finally settled in Thaxted, Essex, where her parents worked running an educational conference centre.[6] There, Jones and her two younger sisters Isobel (later Professor Isobel Armstrong, the literary critic) and Ursula (later an actress and a children's writer) spent a childhood left chiefly to their own devices.

After attending Friends' School, Saffron Walden, she studied English at St Anne's College, Oxford, where she attended lectures by both C. S. Lewis and J. R. R. Tolkien before graduating in 1956.[8] In the same year she married John Burrow, a prominent scholar of medieval literature, with whom she 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.[6]

Career

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"He spread his arms and language rolled from him, sonorous, magnificent, and rhythmic.. for years after that, I used to dream regularly that a piece of my bedroom wall slid aside revealing my grandfather declaiming in Welsh, and I knew he was declaiming about my sins. At the bottom of my mind there is always a flow of spoken language that is not English, rolling in majestic paragraphs and resounding with splendid polysyllables. I listen to it like music when I write."

- An excerpt from her autobiography detailing her time at Wales with her grandfather.

Diana Wynne Jones, Reflections on the magic of writing – Random House, 2012.[9]

Jones started writing during the mid-1960s "mostly to keep [her] sanity", when the youngest of her three children was about two years old and the family lived in a house owned by an Oxford college. Besides the children, she felt harried by the crises of adults in the household: a sick husband, a mother-in-law, a sister, and a friend with daughter.[10] Her first book was a novel for adults published by Macmillan in 1970, entitled Changeover. It originated as the British Empire was divesting colonies; she recalled in 2004 that it had "seemed like every month, we would hear that yet another small island or tiny country had been granted independence."[10] Changeover is set in a fictional African colony during transition, and what begins as a memo about the problem of how to "mark changeover" ceremonially is misunderstood to be about the threat of a terrorist named Mark Changeover. It is a farce with a large cast of characters, featuring government, police, and army bureaucracies; sex, politics, and news. In 1965, when Rhodesia declared independence unilaterally (one of the last colonies and not tiny), "I felt as if the book were coming true as I wrote it."[10]

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, but have now been re-issued for the young audience whose interest in fantasy and reading was spurred by Harry Potter.[11][12]

Jones's works are also compared to those of Robin McKinley and Neil Gaiman. She was friends with both McKinley[13] and Gaiman, and Jones and Gaiman were fans of each other's work; she dedicated her 1993 novel Hexwood to him after something he said in conversation inspired a key part of the plot.[14] Gaiman had already dedicated his 1991 four-part comic book mini-series The Books of Magic to "four witches", of whom Jones was one.[15]

For Charmed Life, the first Chrestomanci novel, Jones won the 1978 Guardian Children's Fiction Prize, a once-in-a-lifetime award by The Guardian newspaper that is judged by a panel of children's writers.[16] Three times she was a commended runner-up[a] for the Carnegie Medal from the Library Association, recognising the year's best children's book: for Dogsbody (1975), Charmed Life (1977), and the fourth Chrestomanci book The Lives of Christopher Chant (1988).[17] She won the Mythopoeic Fantasy Award, children's section, in 1996 for The Crown of Dalemark (concluding that series) and in 1999 for Dark Lord of Derkholm; in four other years she was a finalist for the annual literary award by the Mythopoeic Society.[18][b]

The 1986 novel Howl's Moving Castle was inspired by a boy at a school she was visiting, who asked her to write a book called The Moving Castle.[19] It was published first by Greenwillow in the U.S., where it was a runner-up for the annual Boston Globe–Horn Book Award in children's fiction.[20] In 2004, Hayao Miyazaki made the Japanese-language animated movie Howl's Moving Castle, which was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature.[21] A version dubbed in English was released in the UK and US in 2005, with the voice of Howl performed by Christian Bale.[22] Next year Jones and the novel won the annual Phoenix Award from the Children's Literature Association, recognising the best children's book published twenty years earlier that did not win a major award (named for mythical bird phoenix to suggest the book's rise from obscurity).[23]

Fire and Hemlock had been the 2005 Phoenix runner-up.[23] It is a novel based on Scottish ballads, and was a Mythopoeic Fantasy finalist in its own time.[b]

Archer's Goon (1984) was a runner-up for that year's Horn Book Award.[20] It was adapted for television in 1992.[24] One Jones fansite believes it to be "the only tv adaptation (so far) of one of Diana's books".[25]

Jones's book on clichés in fantasy fiction, The Tough Guide To Fantasyland (nonfiction), has a cult following among writers and critics, despite initially being difficult to find due to an erratic printing history. It was reissued in the UK, and has been reissued in the United States in 2006 by Firebird Books. The Firebird edition has additional material and a completely new design, including a new map.[26]

The British Fantasy Society recognised her significant impact on fantasy with its Karl Edward Wagner Award in 1999.[27] She received an honorary D.Litt from the University of Bristol in July 2006[28] and the World Fantasy Award for Life Achievement in 2007.[18]

In August 2014, Google commemorated Jones with a Google Doodle created by Google artist Sophie Diao.[29]

Illness and death

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Jones was diagnosed with lung cancer in the early summer of 2009.[30] She underwent surgery in July and reported to friends that the procedure had been successful.[31] However, in June 2010 she announced that she would be discontinuing chemotherapy because it only made her feel ill. In mid-2010 she was halfway through a new book with plans for another to follow.[32] She died on 26 March 2011 from the disease.[1] She was surrounded by her husband, three sons, and five grandchildren as she was cremated at Canford Cemetery.

The story in progress when she became too ill to write, The Islands of Chaldea, was completed by her sister Ursula Jones in 2014.[33] Interviewed by The Guardian in June 2013 after she finished the Chaldea story, Ursula Jones said that "other things were coming to light ... She left behind a mass of stuff."[33] In 2013 another book was published posthumously, Vile Visitors.

Works

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Main article: Diana Wynne Jones bibliography

Selected awards and honours

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Jones has been nominated for and also won multiple awards for her various works.

Year Organization Award title,
Category 		Work Result Refs
1985 World Fantasy Convention World Fantasy Award, Novel Archer's Goon Nominated [34]
1986 Mythopoeic Society Mythopoeic Awards, Fantasy Award Fire and Hemlock Nominated [35]
1992 Mythopoeic Society Mythopoeic Awards, Fantasy Award for Children's Literature Castle in the Air Nominated [36]
1996 Mythopoeic Society Mythopoeic Awards, Fantasy Award for Children's Literature The Crown of Dalemark Won [37]
1997 Worldcon Hugo Award, Hugo Award for Best Related Work The Tough Guide to Fantasyland Nominated [38]
1997 Locus Locus Award, Best Non-fiction The Tough Guide to Fantasyland 3 [39]
1997 World Fantasy Convention World Fantasy Award, Special Award—Professional The Tough Guide to Fantasyland Nominated [40]
1999 British Fantasy Society British Fantasy Award, Karl Edward Wagner Award - Won [41]
1999 Mythopoeic Society Mythopoeic Awards, Fantasy Award for Children's Literature Dark Lord of Derkholm Won [42]
2004 Locus Locus Award, Best Young Adult Book The Merlin Conspiracy 3 [43]
2007 Mythopoeic Society Mythopoeic Awards, Fantasy Award for Children's Literature The Pinhoe Egg Nominated [44]
2007 World Fantasy Convention World Fantasy Award, Life Achievement - Won [45]
2009 Mythopoeic Society Mythopoeic Awards, Fantasy Award for Children's Literature House of Many Ways Nominated [46]
2011 Locus Locus Award, Best Young Adult Book Enchanted Glass 5 [47]
2013 British Fantasy Society British Fantasy Award, Best Non-Fiction Reflections: On the Magic of Writing Nominated [48]
2015 Mythopoeic Society Mythopoeic Awards, Fantasy Award for Children's Literature The Islands of Chaldea Nominated [49]

Explanatory notes

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  1. ^ Today there are usually eight books on the Carnegie shortlist. According to CCSU, some runners-up through 2002 were Commended (from 1955) or Highly Commended (from 1966); the latter distinction became approximately annual in 1979. There were about 160 commendations of both kinds in 48 years including two for 1975, three for 1977, and six for 1988.
  2. ^ a b Fire and Hemlock was one of six finalists for the Mythopoeic Award in 1986, when there was a single Fantasy award, and Jones was five times one of four or five finalists in the Children's category after dual fiction awards were introduced in 1992.

References

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Citations

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  1. ^ a b Priest, Christopher (27 March 2011). "Diana Wynne Jones obituary". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 25 March 2019. Retrieved 27 March 2011.
  2. ^ Wynne Jones, Diana (April 2012). Reflections. Foreword: David Fickling Books. p. viii. ISBN 978-0-06-221989-3. Retrieved 7 June 2021.
  3. ^ McKinley, Robin. "Fame. Sort of". Robin McKinley, days in the life, archive. Archived from the original on 14 July 2012. Retrieved 7 June 2021.
  4. ^ Ballard, Janine (16 May 2017). "Interview with Megan Whalen Turner". dearauthor.com. Archived from the original on 7 June 2021. Retrieved 7 June 2021.
  5. ^ "Diana Wynne Jones". The Guardian. 22 July 2008. Archived from the original on 7 June 2021. Retrieved 7 June 2021.
  6. ^ a b c Butler, Charlie (31 March 2011). "Diana Wynne Jones: Doyenne of fantasy writers whose books for children paved the way for JK Rowling". The Independent. Archived from the original on 25 March 2019. Retrieved 3 June 2013.
  7. ^ Reflections By Diana Wynne Jones – 2012
  8. ^ Parsons, Caron (27 March 2003). "Wrestling with an angel". Going Out in Bristol. BBC. Archived from the original on 24 October 2013. Retrieved 3 June 2013.
  9. ^ Jones, Diana Wynne (2012). Diana Wynne Jones, Reflections on the magic of writing – Random House. David Fickling Books. ISBN 978-0-385-65403-6 – via Google Books.
  10. ^ a b c Jones, D. W. (2004). "Introduction: The Origins of Changeover". Changeover [1970]. London: Moondust Books. ISBN 0-9547498-0-4.
  11. ^ Rabinovitch, Dina (23 April 2003). "Wynne-ing ways: Author of the month Diana Wynne Jones". The Guardian. Retrieved 16 August 2014.
  12. ^ de Lint, Charles (January 2000). "Books To Look For". Fantasy & Science Fiction. January 2000.
      Reprint Archived 23 January 2010 at the Wayback Machine at SFsite.com retrieved 2014-12-18.
  13. ^ McKinley, Robin (23 September 2010). "fame. sort of". Robin McKinley: Days in the Life* *with footnotes. Robinmckinleysblog.com. Archived from the original on 16 November 2017. Retrieved 16 August 2014.
  14. ^ Gaiman, Neil [date unknown]. [Title unknown]. The Magian Line 2.2. Refrain: "But I've got a copy of Hexwood, dedicated to me by Diana Wynne Jones". Hexwood was published in 1993.
      Reprint Archived 9 October 2016 at the Wayback Machine as "Neil's Thankyou pome" at Chrestomanci Castle retrieved 2014-12-18.
  15. ^ Gaiman, Neil (13 March 2003). "untitled". Neil Gaiman's Journal. Neil Gaiman (journal.neilgaiman.com). Archived from the original on 25 March 2019. Retrieved 16 August 2014.
  16. ^ "Guardian children's fiction prize relaunched: Entry details and list of past winners". 12 March 2001. Archived from the original on 27 March 2019. Retrieved 15 August 2014.
  17. ^ "Carnegie Medal Award". Curriculum Lab, CCSU Burritt Library. Archived from the original on 27 March 2019. Retrieved 9 August 2012.
  18. ^ a b "Diana Wynne Jones". Science Fiction Awards Database. 31 August 2020. Archived from the original on 8 November 2020. Retrieved 22 February 2021.
  19. ^ Jones, Diana Wynne (1986). Howl's Moving Castle. New York : Greenwillow Books. ISBN 978-0-7848-2484-9.
  20. ^ a b "Boston Globe–Horn Book Awards Winners and Honor Books 1967 to present". The Horn Book. Archived from the original on 19 October 2011. Retrieved 23 December 2012.
  21. ^ "Howl's Moving Castle Awards". IMDb. IMDb.com, Inc. Archived from the original on 22 August 2019. Retrieved 16 June 2019.
  22. ^ "Howl's Moving Castle (2004): Full Cast & Crew" Archived 13 April 2019 at the Wayback Machine. Internet Movie Database. Retrieved 10 December 2014.
  23. ^ a b "Phoenix Award". Children's Literature Association. Archived from the original on 5 February 2021. Retrieved 22 February 2021.
  24. ^ "Archer's Goon (TV series 1992– )". Internet Movie Database. 8 January 1992. Archived from the original on 27 July 2011. Retrieved 27 April 2013.
  25. ^ Home page Archived 19 June 2005 at the Wayback Machine, "More Stuff" in the right margin. The Diana Wynne Jones Fansite. Retrieved 18 December 2014.
  26. ^ "The Tough Guide to Fantasyland by Diana Wynne Jones: 9780142407226 | PenguinRandomHouse.com: Books". PenguinRandomhouse.com. Archived from the original on 22 June 2020. Retrieved 4 August 2020.
  27. ^ "Diana Wynne Jones Books & Biography". HarperCollins. Retrieved 14 September 2019.[permanent dead link]
  28. ^ "Honorary graduates" (1995–present) Archived 31 August 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Public and Ceremonial Events Office. University of Bristol (bristol.ac.uk). Retrieved 18 December 2014.
  29. ^ "Google Doodles". Sophie Diao. Archived from the original on 21 October 2019. Retrieved 4 August 2020.
  30. ^ Russell, Imogen (9 July 2009). "A fantastic weekend with Diana Wynne Jones". guardian.co.uk. Archived from the original on 25 March 2019. Retrieved 15 August 2014.
  31. ^ Gaiman, Neil (23 July 2009). "Eleven Days or Thereabouts". Neil Gaiman's Journal. Neil Gaiman (journal.neilgaiman.com). Archived from the original on 25 March 2019. Retrieved 16 August 2014.
  32. ^ "Ansible 275". News.ansible.co.uk. 11 June 2010. Archived from the original on 1 July 2014. Retrieved 15 August 2014.
  33. ^ a b Flood, Alison (24 June 2013). "Diana Wynne Jones's final book completed by sister". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 12 February 2021. Retrieved 22 February 2021.
  34. ^ "1985 World Fantasy Award". isfdb.org. Internet Speculative Fiction Database. Archived from the original on 30 June 2020. Retrieved 19 February 2021.
  35. ^ "1986 Mythopoeic Award". isfdb.org. Internet Speculative Fiction Database. Archived from the original on 30 June 2020. Retrieved 19 February 2021.
  36. ^ "1992 Mythopoeic Award". isfdb.org. Internet Speculative Fiction Database. Archived from the original on 20 September 2020. Retrieved 19 February 2021.
  37. ^ "1996 Mythopoeic Award". isfdb.org. Internet Speculative Fiction Database. Archived from the original on 19 February 2021. Retrieved 19 February 2021.
  38. ^ "1997 Hugo Award". isfdb.org. Internet Speculative Fiction Database. Archived from the original on 10 November 2020. Retrieved 19 February 2021.
  39. ^ "1997 Locus Poll Award". isfdb.org. Internet Speculative Fiction Database. Archived from the original on 2 July 2020. Retrieved 19 February 2021.
  40. ^ "1997 World Fantasy Award". isfdb.org. Internet Speculative Fiction Database. Archived from the original on 9 July 2019. Retrieved 19 February 2021.
  41. ^ "1999 British Fantasy Award". isfdb.org. Internet Speculative Fiction Database. Archived from the original on 13 August 2020. Retrieved 19 February 2021.
  42. ^ "1999 Mythopoeic Award". isfdb.org. Internet Speculative Fiction Database. Archived from the original on 19 February 2021. Retrieved 19 February 2021.
  43. ^ "2004 Locus Poll Award". isfdb.org. Internet Speculative Fiction Database. Archived from the original on 8 November 2020. Retrieved 19 February 2021.
  44. ^ "2007 Mythopoeic Award". isfdb.org. Internet Speculative Fiction Database. Archived from the original on 19 February 2021. Retrieved 19 February 2021.
  45. ^ "2007 World Fantasy Award". isfdb.org. Internet Speculative Fiction Database. Archived from the original on 18 August 2017. Retrieved 19 February 2021.
  46. ^ "2009 Mythopoeic Award". isfdb.org. Internet Speculative Fiction Database. Archived from the original on 25 September 2017. Retrieved 19 February 2021.
  47. ^ "2011 Locus Poll Award". isfdb.org. Internet Speculative Fiction Database. Archived from the original on 7 November 2020. Retrieved 19 February 2021.
  48. ^ "2013 British Fantasy Award". isfdb.org. Internet Speculative Fiction Database. Archived from the original on 14 August 2020. Retrieved 19 February 2021.
  49. ^ "2015 Mythopoeic Award". isfdb.org. Internet Speculative Fiction Database. Archived from the original on 19 February 2021. Retrieved 19 February 2021.

Additional works cited

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Further reading

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