Ian Serraillier facts for kids

Ian Serraillier (born September 24, 1912 – died November 28, 1994) was an English writer. He wrote many books, including poems and stories for children. He was especially famous for retelling old legends from England, Greece, and Rome.

His most well-known book is The Silver Sword (1956). This is an exciting adventure story set during wartime. The BBC even made it into a television series twice, in 1957 and again in 1971!

Early Life and School Days

Ian Serraillier was born in London on September 24, 1912. He was the oldest of four children. His father, Lucien Serraillier, passed away in 1919 during the 1918 Spanish flu pandemic.

Ian went to school at Brighton College and later studied at St Edmund Hall, Oxford University. After finishing his studies, he became an English teacher. He taught at several schools, including Wycliffe College in Gloucestershire, Dudley Grammar School in Worcestershire, and Midhurst Grammar School in West Sussex. He taught for many years, from 1936 to 1961.

Standing Up for Peace

Ian Serraillier was a Quaker. Quakers believe in peace and avoiding violence. Because of his beliefs, he was a conscientious objector during World War II. This meant he chose not to fight in the war because of his strong moral beliefs. He was also a member of the Peace Pledge Union, a group that promotes peace.

His Amazing Books

Ian Serraillier wrote many different types of books. He was known for his poetry and his adventure stories for young readers.

Poetry for Young Readers

Ian Serraillier wrote several collections of poems. Some of his poetry books include:

• The Weaver Birds (1944)
• Thomas and the Sparrow (1946)
• The Ballad of Kon-Tiki and Other Verses (1952)
• Everest Climbed (1955)
• I'll Tell You a Tale: A Collection of Poems and Ballads (1973)

Exciting Fiction Stories

He wrote many adventure stories, especially for children. Some of his popular fiction books are:

• They Raced for Treasure (1946)
• Flight to Adventure (1947)
• There’s No Escape (1950)
• The Silver Sword (1956) – his most famous book about children escaping during wartime.
• The Ivory Horn (1960) – a retelling of an old French legend.
• The Gorgon’s Head: The Story of Perseus (1961) – a Greek myth retold.
• The Way of Danger: The Story of Theseus (1962) – another Greek myth.
• The Clashing Rocks: The Story of Jason (1963) – the story of Jason and the Argonauts.
• The Enchanted Island: Stories from Shakespeare (1964) – classic plays made easier to understand.
• Robin in the Greenwood (1967) – stories about Robin Hood.
• Heracles the Strong (1970) – the adventures of the strong hero Heracles.

Other Works

Ian Serraillier also wrote non-fiction books, often about history. He translated books from other languages, working with his wife, Anne Serraillier, on some projects. He also helped edit reading schemes for schools.