Geoffrey Trease facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Geoffrey Trease
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Cover of Cue for Treason
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| Born | 11 August 1909 Nottingham, England |
| Died | 27 January 1998 (aged 88) Bath, England |
| Occupation | Writer |
| Language | English |
| Nationality | British |
| Genre | Children's historical fiction |
| Notable works |
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| Notable awards | New York Herald Tribune Book Award, 1966 |
Geoffrey Trease (born August 11, 1909 – died January 27, 1998) was a British writer who wrote an amazing 113 books! Most of his books were for children, especially exciting historical adventures. He started writing in 1934 with Bows against the Barons and kept going until 1997. His stories have been translated into 20 different languages, showing how popular they are around the world.
Trease is best known for his children's historical novels. These are stories set in the past, but they feel very real because he did a lot of research to make sure the details were correct. He also believed that children's books should be taken seriously. When he started writing, most children's books were quite old-fashioned. Trease was one of the first authors to write stories that appealed to both boys and girls, often featuring strong main characters of both sexes.
Contents
Life and His Writing Journey
Geoffrey Trease was born in Nottingham, England, in 1909. He was the youngest of three sons. He was very smart and won a scholarship to Nottingham High School, where he loved writing stories and poems. He even wrote a three-act play!
He later went to Oxford University to study Classics. But he found his classes boring and left after only a year without finishing his degree. He then moved to London, determined to become a writer. While there, he also worked with children in tough neighborhoods and joined a group that discussed new ideas.
Trease felt that many children's books from his own childhood were old-fashioned and sometimes unfair. In 1933, he read a Russian book that told a real-life plan for the country in a dramatic way for young readers. This inspired him to write Bows against the Barons in 1934. This book was a new take on the Robin Hood story, but with a focus on fairness and equality.
His new approach to historical stories for young people included:
- Using modern, easy-to-understand English.
- Featuring strong male and female characters, often from everyday backgrounds.
- Paying close attention to historical details to make the stories feel real.
Many of his books explore themes of equality and fairness. They also often connect historical events to issues that are still important today.
Bows Against the Barons became very popular and was even translated into Russian. His next book, Comrades for the Charter, wasn't as successful. But in 1940, he wrote Cue for Treason, which became his most famous and loved book.
Stories Across Time: Trease's Historical Settings
Geoffrey Trease wrote about many different periods in history. For example:
- The Crown of Violet is set in Ancient Greece.
- The Red Towers of Granada takes place in the Middle Ages.
- The Hills of Varna explores Renaissance Europe.
- Cue for Treason and Cloak for a Spy are set in Elizabethan England.
- Fire on the Wind and Popinjay Stairs are set in Restoration London.
- Thunder of Valmy is about the French Revolution.
- The White Nights of St Petersburg tells a story from the Bolshevik Revolution.
- Tomorrow Is a Stranger is set during World War II.
Besides historical novels, Trease also wrote modern school stories, like the five "Black Banner" novels set in the beautiful Lake District. The first of these was No Boats on Bannermere. He also wrote books for adults, history books, plays for radio and TV, and biographies (life stories of famous people). He even wrote a guide called The Young Writer: A Practical Handbook to help young people learn creative writing.
Trease wrote three books about his own life: A Whiff of Burnt Boats (1971), Laughter at the Door (1974), and Farewell the Hills (1998). The last one was written for his family and published after he passed away.
Influence and Recognition
Geoffrey Trease inspired many other famous authors, like Hester Burton, Rosemary Sutcliff, and Leon Garfield. He kept writing and published 113 books before he stopped at age 88 due to illness. Many of his books were sold in other countries, including Asia and Europe. In the United States, he won the New York Herald Tribune Book Award in 1966 for his book This is Your Century.
He married Marian Boyer in 1933. They lived for many years in Colwall, near The Downs School. They had one daughter, Jocelyne. They moved to Bath to be closer to her shortly before Marian passed away in 1989.
Awards
- New York Herald Tribune Award for This is Your Century
