“We learn more by looking for the answer to a question and not finding it than we do from learning the answer itself.” – Lloyd Alexander
Born in Philadelphia on this date
in 1924, Alexander authored more than 40 books, primarily fantasy novels for
children and young adults. His most famous work The High King, part
of his “Chronicles of Prydain” series, won the Newbery Medal for
excellence in American children's literature. He
also was awarded two U.S. National Book Awards.
Alexander grew up with a deep love of reading, particularly adventures and
classics. “Shakespeare, Dickens, Mark Twain, and so many others were
my dearest friends and greatest teachers,” he said. While he
never finished college, his writing eventually earned him several
“writer-in-residence” opportunities at colleges and universities – an
experience he said was like being a favorite uncle who comes in and spoils the
kids and then leaves them to their parents at days’ end.
A World War II veteran, Alexander –
who died in 2007 – spent time in Wales late in the war and the landscape and
history he discovered there shaped a number of his fantasy
novels. Enamored with adventures and tales of knights and
dragons, he went into the army to get a taste of adventure for
himself.
“I decided,” he said, “that my own
adventure was the best way to learn about writing.”
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