Diana Wynne Jones: Children's Literature and the Fantastic Tradition

by Farah Mendlesohn

Description

"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 wizards' 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 is the first sustained study of Jones's work. Here, renowned science fiction critic and historian Farah show more Mendlesohn provides a comprehensive overview of Jones's oeuvre and examines her important critiques of the fantastic tradition's ideas about childhood and adolescence.This is essential reading for Jones's many admirers and a long overdue critical companion for students and scholars of children's literature."--Jacket. show less

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LindaLiu 105 reviews

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Oct 29, 2025

nwhyte 5,966 reviews

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An excellent, thorough look at the works of the much-missed author, taking us through how Jones educates her readers subtly through her writing, which made me want to fill in the large gaps in my own reading of her works

Nov 6, 2011

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ashleytylerjohn 535 reviews

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Farah Mendlesohn

43+ Works 1,373 Members

Farah Mendlesohn teaches at Middlesex University, London

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Children's Literature and Culture

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Canonical title: Diana Wynne Jones: Children's Literature and the Fantastic Tradition
People/Characters: Diana Wynne Jones
Original language: Children's Literature and Culture
Disambiguation notice: Please do not combine these two separate books: (1) the literary study "Diana Wynne Jones: The Fantastic Tradition and Children's Literature" by Farah Mendlesohn , and (2) the novel "A Tale of Time City" by Diana W... (show all)ynne Jones. This is the entry for the Farah Mendlesohn literary study.

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Diana Wynne Jones: Children's Literature and the Fantastic Tradition

by Farah Mendlesohn

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