ROBERT WESTALL
English author (1929-1993)
Biography:
Robert Westall was born October 7, 1929, in Tynemouth, a port in the north of England. After getting degrees in LOndon, he became techer, writer and art critic. His first novel for young adults, The Machine-Gunners, appeared in 1975 and was awarded with Carnegie Medal, one of the most important medals in literature for young readers. It was a novel about a gang of British teenagers who find an undamaged machine gun during World War II.
His other novels are: The Wind Eye (1976), The Watch House (1977), Futuretrack 5 (1983), The Cats of Seroster (1984), The Devil on the Road (1985), Urn Burial (1987), Blitzcat (1989), The Promise (1990), The Christmas Cat (1991), Yaxley's Cat (1991), The Christmas Ghost (1992) and The Wheatstone Pond (1993). He has also written short stories and collections.
Robert Westall died in 1993.
Robert Westall, author of illustrated works:
Christmas Spirit, illustrated by John Lawrence, Mammoth, 1995.
Ghost Stories, illustrated by Sean Eckett, Kingfisher Books, 1993.
If Cats Could Fly, illustrated by Tony Ross, Mammoth, 1992.
Cat's Whispers and Tales, illustrated by Kate Aldous, Macmillan Children's Books, 1998.
Chassy s'en va t'en guerre, illustrated by Yves Beaujard, Hachette, 1982.
L'odyssée d'un chat noir, illustrated by Miles Hyman, Hachette, 1994.
La tête haute, illustrated by Claude Cachin, Hachette, 1995.
Le fantôme de Noël, illustrated by Christophe Durual, Hachette, 1996.
La double vie de Figgis, illustrated by Françoise Moreau, Hachette, 1997.
Le maléfice de Muncaster, followed by Brangwyn Gardens, illustrated by Tudor Banus, Hachette, 1997.
Critical analysis on Robert Westall:
A. Chambers, "Letter from England: Children at War", Horn Book 52, August 1976, pp.438-42.
D. Rees, "Macho Man, British Style--Robert Westall.", dans Painted Desert, pp. 115-25.