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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

Love Your Pet Day

Whatever pet you have, read More Arabel and Mortimer by Joan Aiken. Published by Puffin.

13 days ago

Love Your Pet Day

More Arabel and Mortimer by Joan Aiken is a great way to celebrate your pets! From Penguin Random House Children's UK.

13 days ago

Valentine's Day

Loving Jane Fairfax by Joan Aiken from Penguin Random House Children's UK.

19 days ago

Valentine's Day

Mansfield Revisited by Joan Aiken from Jonathan Cape is brilliant!

19 days ago

Valentine's Day

#ValentinesDay tomorrow, so why not read Mansfield Revisited by Joan Aiken from Penguin Random House Children's UK.

20 days ago

Valentine's Day

#ValentinesDay tomorrow, so why not read Jane Fairfax by Joan Aiken from Penguin Random House Children's UK.

20 days ago

Valentine's Day

It's #ValentinesDay tomorrow. How about Mansfield Revisited by Joan Aiken? Published by Jonathan Cape.

20 days ago

Valentine's Day

With February comes Valentine's Day so why not get ahead by reading Mansfield Revisited by Joan Aiken from Jonathan Cape.

1 month ago

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