Diana Wynne Jones: The Fantastic Tradition and Children's Literature (Children's Literature and Culture) [Hardcover]

Farah Mendlesohn (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0415970237 | ISBN-13: 978-0415970235 | Publication Date: August 26, 2005

British author Diana Wynne Jones has been writing speculative fiction for children for more than thirty years. A clear influence on more recent writers such as J.K. Rowling, her humorous and exciting stories of wizard's academies, dragons and griffins, many published for children but read by all ages, are also complexly structured and thought provoking critiques of the fantasy tradition. This book will be of interest to Jones's many admirers and to those who study fantasy and children's literature. With the rise in interest in "Harry Potter", there has been an accompanying renaissance of critical interest in Jones's work. This book, however, is the first sustained, single-author study of Jones's work, written by a renowned science fiction critic and historian. In addition to providing an overview of her work, Farah Mendlesohn also examines Jones's important critiques of the fantastic tradition's ideas about childhood and adolescence.

Editorial Reviews

Review

A very perceptive study.
–London Evening Standard, March 2005

Farah Mendlesohn, Diana Wynne Jones: Children's Literature and the Fantastic Tradition.
This much needed book will be an invaluable companion to those who are already enthusiastic about the work of Diana Wynne Jones, as well as being a more than useful guide to those as yet relatively unfamiliar with her novels. Mendelsohn's emphasis is on Jones as a writer of critical fantasy, and the distinctions she draws between different varieties of fantasy (such as portal-quest and immersive) are particularly helpful in the light they throw on her claim that Jones's novels are in effect teaching young readers how to read the fantastic intelligently and critically.
–Pat Pinsent, Senior Research Fellow, National Centre for Research in Children's Literature, University of Roehampton

Farah Mendlesohn has provided an excellent and long overdue study on the fantasy literature of Diana Wynne Jones; her carefully considered insights will shape critical discussions of Jones and her fiction for years to come.
–C.W. Sullivan III, Welsh Celtic Myth and Modern Fantasy

About the Author

Farah Mendlesohn is a noted science fiction critic and historian. She is Editor of the journal Foundation: the International Review of Science Fiction and has twice served as a judge for the esteemed Arthur C. Clarke award for best work in sf. She co-edited, with Professor Edward James, The Cambridge Companion to Science Fiction.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 280 pages
• Publisher: Routledge (August 26, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0415970237
• ISBN-13: 978-0415970235
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,644,820 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must for fantasy readers AND writers, July 7, 2010

By 

Caris - See all my reviews

This review is from: Diana Wynne Jones: The Fantastic Tradition and Children's Literature (Children's Literature and Culture) (Paperback)

Farah Mendlesohn knows as much about the elements of fantasy writing as anyone on the planet, which enables her to not only appreciate but explain Diana Wynne Jones's brilliant technique and her subversion of many fantasy-genre cliches, from hackneyed Arthurian-type grail quests to invariably beautiful heroines. She does a particularly good job of disentangling Jones's intricate use of series-A and series-B time travel; if nothing else, it will help you understand why you don't understand what's going on in some of Jones's books (like, for instance, Time of the Ghost and A Tale of Time City). She also offers background on many of Jones's references, including the Gwyn Ap Nudd myth that figures in Dogsbody, the variations on Tam Lin/Thomas the Rhymer folktales in Fire and Hemlock, and possible sources for the animistic gods and goddesses in the Dalemark Quartet. I loved, loved, loved this book.

5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating brains!, September 20, 2011

By 

pretentiousgit - See all my reviews

This review is from: Diana Wynne Jones: The Fantastic Tradition and Children's Literature (Children's Literature and Culture) (Hardcover)

Farah Mendlesohn was the shining high point of my anthropological journey to WisCon 2009. She is a brilliant academic, incisive and witty. I deeply enjoyed her book, which draws on her extensive knowledge and vast comprehension of the goings-on in the science fiction and fantasy genre. Well-read and better written, this is an excellent textbook, as suited to reading on the metro as in the classroom.