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Joan Aiken

Author

About Joan Aiken

Joan Aiken was born in Sussex in 1924. She was the daughter of the American poet, Conrad Aiken; her sister, Jane Aiken Hodge, is also a novelist. Before joining the 'family business' herself, Joan had a variety of jobs, including working for the BBC, the United Nations Information Centre and then as features editor for a short story magazine. Her first children's novel, The Kingdom of the Cave, was published in 1960.

Joan Aiken wrote over a hundred books for young readers and adults and is recognized as one of the classic authors of the twentieth century. Amanda Craig, writing in The Times, said, 'She was a consummate story-teller, one that each generation discovers anew.' Her best-known books are those in the James III saga, of which The Wolves of Willoughby Chase was the first title, published in 1962 and awarded the Lewis Carroll prize. Both that and Black Hearts in Battersea have been filmed. Her books are internationally acclaimed and she received the Edgar Allan Poe Award in the United States as well as the Guardian Award for Fiction in this country for The Whispering Mountain.

Joan Aiken was decorated with an MBE for her services to children's books. She died in 2004.

Joan Aiken books

Recent updates about Joan Aiken

International Moment of Laughter Day

and laugh out loud this #InternationalMomentofLaughterDay Mortimer and the Sword Excalibur by Joan Aiken from Frances Lincoln Children's Books

7 days ago

National Pet Day

#NationalPetDay so read a great book all about your furry / fishy or scaly friend! More Arabel and Mortimer by Joan Aiken from Penguin Random House Children's UK

10 days ago

National Pet Day

#NationalPetDay so read a great book all about your furry / fishy or scaly friend! More Arabel and Mortimer by Joan Aiken from Puffin

10 days ago

International Children's Book Day

Today is the day to read this brilliant book (not that you needed an excuse!), The Stolen Lake by Joan Aiken from Red Fox.

19 days ago

International Children's Book Day

Today is the day to read this brilliant book (not that you needed an excuse!), The Stolen Lake by Joan Aiken from Penguin Random House Children's UK.

19 days ago

International Children's Book Day

Today is the day to read this brilliant book (not that you needed an excuse!), The Whispering Mountain (Prequel to the Wolves Chronicles series) by Joan Aiken from Puffin.

19 days ago

International Children's Book Day

Today is the day to read this brilliant book (not that you needed an excuse!), The Whispering Mountain (Prequel to the Wolves Chronicles series) by Joan Aiken from Penguin Random House Children's UK.

19 days ago

International Children's Book Day

Today is the day to read this brilliant book (not that you needed an excuse!), The Kingdom Under the Sea by Joan Aiken from Penguin Random House Children's UK.

19 days ago

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