Diana Wynne Jones (16 August 1934 – 26 March 2011) was a writer of fantasy, mostly aimed at older children. I have vivid memories of my first encounter with her work, back in the 1970s, when The Ogre Downstairs was read on Jackanory. The central idea, a chemistry set with conventional chemicals on top, and a second layer of much stranger substances underneath, is a great vehicle for Wynne Jones’ invention and wit. Another, slightly darker, early favourite was Eight Days of Luke, in which David, an orphan who is bullied and neglected by his unpleasant relatives, finds his life transformed when he somehow stumbles upon a spell which summons the engaging yet elusive Luke to his side. David’s loyalties are torn as he slowly begins to really exactly who – and what – Luke is.
But my absolute favourite has to be Charmed Life, which I chose to write about over on normblog as part of his ‘writer’s choice’ s series. This is the story of another orphan boy, Cat, and his bossy older sister Gwendolen, whose adventures really start when they go to live with an old friend of their father’s, the powerful enchanter Chrestomanci. It’s an absolutely delightful book which I reread regularly, and encapsulates that wonderful blend of magic and matter-of-factness which characterises many memorable writers for children – Joan Aiken, Edward Eager and, of course, E. Nesbit.
Although one tends to be most fond of the children’s books one first encountered as a child, I’ve rarely failed to read each new novel as soon as it appeared, and very much enjoyed Enchanted Glass which was published in 2010. Like so many of her books, it builds on a much earlier, well-known story – but I won’t say which one, as the process of finding out is part of the fun.
Diana Wynne Jones received the World Fantasy Award for Life Achievement in 2007, and will be much missed by her many fans.
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