Ann Schlee facts for kids

Ann Schlee (born May 26, 1934, died November 1, 2023) was an English writer. She wrote many interesting books. She won a special award called the Guardian Children's Fiction Prize in 1979 for her book The Vandal. This award is given to the best children's book. Later, she became a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature in 1997. This means she was recognized as an important writer.

Ann Schlee's Early Life and Schooling

Ann Schlee was born in Greenwich, Connecticut, in the United States. She grew up there with her mother and grandparents. This was during the time of the Second World War.

After the war, her family moved to Cairo, Egypt. They later lived in Sudan and Eritrea. Ann then went to a boarding school in England. She later studied at Somerville College, which is part of the famous University of Oxford.

Ann Schlee was married to an artist named Nick Schlee. They lived in Berkshire, England. They had four children together. Ann Schlee passed away on November 1, 2023, when she was 89 years old.

Her Writing Career

Ann Schlee spent most of her writing career in London. She was very active as a writer from the 1970s to the 1990s. During these years, she published many of her well-known books.

Awards and Special Honours

Ann Schlee won several awards for her writing. Her book The Vandal (published in 1980) is a science fiction novel. It is set in the future.

The Guardian Prize

The Vandal won the 1980 Guardian Prize. This award celebrates great children's books. The book was also a runner-up for the Carnegie Medal. The Carnegie Medal is another important award for the best children's book by a British subject.

Booker Prize Nomination

Her book Rhine Journey (published in 1981) was also very successful. It was chosen as a finalist for the 1981 Booker Prize. This prize is given to the best novel of the year.

Books Written by Ann Schlee

Ann Schlee wrote many books during her career. Here are some of her selected works:

• The Strangers (1971)
• The Consul's Daughter (1972)
• Guns of Darkness (1973)
• Ask Me No Questions (1979)
• The Vandal (Macmillan, 1980)
• Rhine Journey (Henry Holt & Co, 1981)
• The Proprietor (1983)
• Laing (1987)
• The Proprietor (1996)
• The Time in Aderra (Macmillan, 1998)