Lloyd Alexander
Lloyd Alexander (Lloyd Chudley Alexander) was born on January 30th, 1924. Lloyd passed away May 17th, 2007 at 83 years old. Lloyd Alexander was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. Alexander attended the University of Paris.
Lloyd Alexander was an American fantasy fiction novelist who was best known for his popular
Chronicles of Prydain series.
While he is one of America’s most beloved authors, at one point it did seem that he would never achieve his dream of becoming an author. His parents did not have the funds to pay for his college tuition and he was forced to work as a messenger boy at a Philadelphia bank instead.
Alexander would finally make enough money and ultimately quit his job to attend college. However, he hated the college curriculum and decided to find adventure with the army since the United States had then joined the Second World War. But in the army, he was sent to Texas and had to do odd jobs such as first aid man, organist in the chapel, and artilleryman.
Things began to turn around when he was sent to Maryland to work in military intelligence. He was then trained as part of a team of paratroopers to parachute into France to help the Resistance. Thankfully, he was sent to Wales before he was sent on the mission to the Continent.
Wales with its beautiful language, mountains, rough-hewn country, mountains and castles made quite an impression. But it was when he was sent to southern Germany, the Rhineland and Alsace-Lorraine that he had glimpses of another beautiful land.
At the end of World War II, Alexander worked in counterintelligence in Paris. It was while he was in Paris that he met Janine, a local girl who would become his wife. Back home in the US, the couple settled in Philadelphia where Alexander began writing, even as he earned a living as an associate editor, layout artist, and cartoonist.
In 1964, Lloyd Alexander published
The Book of Three, the first of
The Chronicles of Prydain series. It tells the story of Taran, a kid who wanted to be a hero only to be relegated to looking after a pig. Things get interesting when Hen Wen the oracular pig goes missing and the quest to get him back leads him into a perilous but enchanting world.
A year later, Lloyd Alexander published his second novel,
The Black Cauldron. In this one, Taran and his colleagues find themselves in a struggle against Arawn and his immortal warriors. They get their strength from the black cauldron and Taran will have to get it from them if he is to defeat them. But he may have to pay a great price to get his hands on the cauldron.
The Castle of Llyr is a work that Lloyd Alexander published in 1966. This follows Princess Eilonwy who does not want to leave behind Taran her friend and Caer Dallben her beloved home. She is to go away to train to become a lady but what she does not know is that she is being sent away so that Queen Achren, the evil enchantress will not get her hands on her magical powers.
Lloyd Alexander: Awards & Accolades
Lloyd Alexander won the World Fantasy Award, Life Achievement, in 2003.
Alexander's books have also won multiple awards, The Black Cauldron won the John Newbery Medal Awards, Newbery Honor, in 1966. The High King won the John Newbery Medal Awards, Newbery Medal, in 1969. The Marvelous Misadventures of Sebastian won the National Book Awards, Children's Literature, in 1971. Westmark won the National Book Awards, Children's Books - Hardcover, in 1982.
Lloyd Alexander books have also been nominated for multiple awards, The High King was nominated for the National Book Awards, Children's Literature, in 1969. The Marvelous Misadventures of Sebastian was nominated for the Mythopoeic Award, Fantasy Award, in 1971. The First Two Lives of Lukas-Kasha was nominated for the National Book Awards, Children's Literature, in 1979. The Wizard in the Tree was nominated for the National Book Awards, Children's Books - Paperback, in 1982. The Kestrel was nominated for the National Book Awards, Children's Picture Books - Hardcover, in 1983.
Related Authors
The most common authors followed by users who also follow Lloyd Alexander are:
- J.R.R. Tolkien, author of The Lord of the Rings Series.
- Neil Gaiman, author of the American Gods Series.
- Stephen King, author of The Dark Tower Series.
- Philip Pullman, author of the His Dark Materials Series.
- J.K. Rowling, author of the Harry Potter Series.
Lloyd Alexander: F.A.Q
When was Lloyd Alexander Born?
Lloyd Alexander was born on January 30th, 1924.
When did Lloyd Alexander die?
Lloyd Alexander died on May 17th, 2007 at 83 years old.
Where was Lloyd Alexander Born?
Lloyd Alexander was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
What awards has Lloyd Alexander won?
Lloyd Alexander has won the following awards: Life Achievement at the World Fantasy Award (2003).
What book awards has Lloyd Alexander won?
What was the first book Lloyd Alexander wrote?
The first book written by Lloyd Alexander was And Let the Credit Go , published in 1955.
What was the most recent book Lloyd Alexander wrote?
His most recently released work was The Golden Dream of Carlo Chuchio on August 7th, 2007.
How many books has Lloyd Alexander written?
Lloyd Alexander has written 45 books excluding contributions to anthologies. 5 books in The Chronicles of Prydain Series, 3 books in the Westmark Trilogy Series, 6 books in the Vesper Holly Series, 23 Standalone Novels, 2 books in the Short Story Collections, 3 books in the Picture Books, 3 books in the Non-Fiction Books.