Barbara Willard (1909–1994)
Author of Son of Charlemagne
About the Author
Series
Works by Barbara Willard
Three and one to carry 9 copies
The House with Roots 2 copies
Son of Charlemagne 780ad 1 copy
Accadde in una notte di luna 1 copy
Winter in disguise 1 copy
Eight for a secret 1 copy
Portrait of Philip 1 copy
The Dippers and Jo 1 copy
Associated Works
Tagged
Common Knowledge
- Other names
- Willard, Barbara Mary
- Birthdate
- 1909-03-12
- Date of death
- 1994-02-18
- Gender
- female
- Nationality
- England
UK - Birthplace
- Brighton, Sussex, England, UK
- Place of death
- Wivelsfield Green, East Sussex, England, UK
- Places of residence
- Sussex, England, UK
Nutley, Sussex, England, UK - Education
- convent school
- Occupations
- children's book author
novelist
actor - Organizations
- Ashdown Forest Board of Conservators
- Short biography
- Barbara Willard came from an acting family. Her father was Edmund Willard, a British actor known for his Shakespearean roles, and her great-uncle was E.S. (Edward Smith) Willard, a Victorian stage actor. Barbara herself originally began a career as an actress, but abandoned it in her early twenties. Beginning in 1930, she wrote several novels for adults before turning to children's literature. Her most famous work was the Mantlemass Chronicles, a series of historical novels spanning the 15th to 17th centuries, published between 1970 and 1988. One of the books, The Iron Lily (1973), won the annual Guardian Children's Fiction Prize. The entire series was critically acclaimed and ensured her a lasting place in children's historical fiction. In 1956, Willard moved to a new home on the edge of Ashdown Forest in Sussex, an area she loved. It inspired many of her children's books, which she imbued with local history, customs and dialect. She also was elected to the forest's Board of Conservators in 1975, and served in that position for 10 years.
Members
Reviews
Lists
Sonlight Books (1)
Awards
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Associated Authors
Statistics
- Works
- 64
- Also by
- 6
- Members
- 2,976
- Popularity
- #8,570
- Rating
- 4.0
- Reviews
- 9
- ISBNs
- 141
- Languages
- 2
- Favorited
- 3