Alison Spedding facts for kids

Alison Louise Spedding, born on January 22, 1962, is a British expert in human cultures and a writer of fantasy stories. She is also known by the name Alison Spedding Pallet.

Early Life and Education

Alison Spedding grew up in the towns of Maidenhead and Reading in the United Kingdom. Her parents are Ken Spedding and Maureen Reybould.

Studying at Cambridge

She attended King's College, Cambridge, a famous university. There, she studied archaeology, which is the study of human history through digging up old sites. She also studied anthropology, which is about understanding human societies and cultures. Later, she studied philosophy, which explores big questions about life and knowledge. She earned her first degree in 1982.

Advanced Studies

Alison Spedding continued her studies at the London School of Economics. She earned her PhD degree in 1989. A PhD is a very high academic degree, showing deep knowledge in a specific field.

Writing Fantasy Novels

Alison Spedding is also known for her fantasy novels. She wrote a series of three books called A Walk in the Dark.

Story Setting

These books are set around the time of Alexander the Great, a famous ancient king and military leader. In her stories, Alexander dies, and a brave female character named Aleizon Ailix Ayndra takes on his important mission.

Life and Work in Bolivia

In 1988, Alison Spedding moved to Bolivia, a country in South America. She became a permanent resident there in 1989.

Teaching and Research

She taught at the Higher University of San Andrés in La Paz, which is a major city in Bolivia. She learned to speak Spanish fluently, as well as Aymara, a local language spoken by many people in the Andes mountains.

She wrote an academic book in 1994 called Wachu Wachu. Cultivo de coca e identidad en los Yungas de la Paz. This book explored the culture and identity of people who grow coca plants in a region called Yungas.

Other Books and Plays

Alison Spedding also wrote creative works in Spanish. In 1994, she published a collection of short stories titled El tiempo, la distancia, otros amantes. She also wrote a novel called Manuel y Fortunato. Una picaresca andina, which came out in 1997.

She continued to write more novels in Spanish. These include El viento de la cordillera (2001) and Catre de fierro (2015). She also wrote a science fiction novel with themes of freedom and equality, called De cuando en cuando Saturnina (2004).

Alison Spedding also wrote a play called Un gato en el tejar. She published this play using a different name, Alicia Céspedes Ballet. She also wrote more academic books, such as Kausachun-Coca (2004) and Religión en los Andes: Extirpación de idolatrías y modernidad de la fe andina (2008).

Advocacy and Continued Work

Alison Spedding became a strong voice for farmers in Bolivia. She spoke out about the challenges they faced regarding their traditional coca crops. She continued her work and teaching. As of 2025, she is still living in Bolivia. She is an active member of a group that supports coca farmers. She also continues to teach at the Universidad Mayor de San Andrés.

See also

In Spanish: Alison Spedding para niños