Four British Fantasists: Place and Culture in the Children's Fantasies of Penelope Lively, Alan Garner, Diana Wynne Jones, and Susan Cooper

by Charles Butler

Overview

Four British Fantasists explores the work of four of the most successful and influential of the generation of fantasy writes who rose to prominence in the "second Golden Age" of children's literature in Britain: Susan Cooper, Alan Garner, Diana Wynne Jones, and Penelope Lively.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780810852426
Publisher:	Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.
Publication date:	04/25/2006
Pages:	322
Product dimensions:	5.72(w) x 8.60(h) x 0.95(d)

About the Author

Charles Butler teaches English Literature at the University of the West of England.

Table of Contents

Part 1 Acknowledgments Chapter 2 1. Contexts and Connections Chapter 3 2. Applied Archeology Chapter 4 3. Longing and Belonging Chapter 5 4. Myth and Magic Chapter 6 5. Conclusion: Writing for Children? Part 7 Bibliography Part 8 Index Part 9 About the Author

Editorial Reviews

...recommended...

American Reference Books Annual

Butler examines the work of four British authors of children's fantasy fiction who began their careers during the 1960s and 1970s. Particular attention is paid to the role played by British history and culture in the development of their writing. The literary influence of such writers as C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien is also considered. Butler (English literature, U. of the West of England) is the author of numerous fantasy novels for children and young adults.

Reference and Research Book News

...the thoughtfulness and depth of the scholarship that went into this study, and the intriguing perspectives from which Butler considers these four premiere British fantasy authors, have resulted in a work that is well worth returning to again and again.

Martha Hixon

This is a well-written and extremely scholarly work.

The Green Man Review

...recommended...

vol. 38 (2007) American Reference Books Annual

Butler examines the work of four British authors of children's fantasy fiction who began their careers during the 1960s and 1970s. Particular attention is paid to the role played by British history and culture in the development of their writing. The literary influence of such writers as C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien is also considered. Butler (English literature, U. of the West of England) is the author of numerous fantasy novels for children and young adults.

August 2006 Reference and Research Book News

A literate, illuminating look at four authors whom Butler calls, "important contributors to the formation of a corpus of modern children's literature-capable of bearing the weight of academic scrutiny." All four studied at Oxford while J. R. R. Tolkien and C. S. Lewis were writing and lecturing, and Butler notes the influences that these men had on each writer. The text is divided into three major sections. "Applied Archeology" deals with the interplay between past and present, especially as it is played out on the landscape. "Longing and Belonging" addresses the "complex relationship between identity and place." "Myth and Magic" explores each author's use of traditional literature, especially from the British Isles. Butler convincingly demolishes reductive, issues-oriented critics by explicating and celebrating the artistic choices made by these four masters of their craft. Since many of today's undergraduates grew up with these writers, this important title should not be limited to academic libraries supporting graduate and undergraduate children's literature courses. It belongs in any library that serves a liberal-arts curriculum. It is highly readable, commandingly intelligent, and refreshingly jargon-free. A seminal work of criticism.-Margaret A. Chang, Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, North Adams Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.

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