Eleanor Updale facts for kids

Eleanor Updale, born in 1953, is a British writer. She is well-known for her children's books, especially the Montmorency series. These books are set in the Victorian era and follow the adventures of a character named Montmorency. He starts as a former convict and later becomes a gentleman.

About Eleanor Updale

Eleanor Updale was born in 1953. She grew up in Camberwell, a part of South London. She went to St Anne's College, Oxford in the 1970s. There, she studied history. Later, in 2007, she earned a PhD in History from Queen Mary, University of London. Her research focused on early members of the Royal Society. Eleanor Updale is also a trustee for a charity called Listening Books. This charity provides audiobooks to people who find it hard to read.

Family Life

Eleanor Updale is married to a broadcaster named James Naughtie. They have three children together.

Eleanor Updale's Career

Before becoming a full-time writer, Eleanor Updale worked for the BBC. From 1975 to 1990, she produced television and radio shows. These included popular news programs like The World at One and Newsnight. She also served on the board of a journal called Clinical Ethics. This journal is published by the Royal Society of Medicine.

The Montmorency Series

Eleanor Updale wrote the Montmorency series of five historical crime novels. These books are for young adult readers. The first book was published in 2003, and the last in 2013. The main character, Montmorency, is an English ex-convict. He transforms into a gentleman detective and a spy.

In 2004, the first Montmorency book won the Blue Peter award. This award was for 'The Book I Couldn’t Put Down'. In 2012, a play based on Montmorency was performed. It was part of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. A reviewer from The Guardian, Philip Ardagh, described the Montmorency books as "rattling-good adventures". He noted that they are about a thief who uses sewers to escape.

Books by Eleanor Updale

Eleanor Updale's first children's novel, Montmorency, came out in the UK in 2003. It was published by Scholastic Corporation. In the U.S., it was released under the title Montmorency: thief, liar, gentleman?. Four more books followed in this popular series.

Montmorency Books

• Montmorency on the Rocks: doctor, aristocrat, murderer? (2004)
• Montmorency and the Assassins: master, criminal, spy? (2005)
• Montmorency's Revenge: madman, actor, arsonist? (2006)
• Montmorency's Return (2013)

Other Books

Eleanor Updale has also written other books for children. These stories feature different characters and adventures.

• Itch, Scritch, Scratch, illustrated by Sarah Horne (2008)
• Saved (2008)
• Johnny Swanson (2010)
• The Last Minute (2013)