Idwal Jones (novelist) facts for kids

Idwal Jones (born December 8, 1887 – died November 14, 1964) was a writer from Wales who also became an American citizen. He wrote novels and non-fiction books. A lot of his stories were about the beautiful state of California and how many people moved there.

Life and Writing Journey

Idwal Jones was born in a place called Ffestiniog, Wales. His parents were William W. Jones and Mary Catherine Hughes. His father was an engineer and also studied rocks. In 1902, when Idwal was about 15, his family moved to Pennsylvania in the United States. They lived in an area where people dug for slate, a type of rock.

Idwal studied mechanical engineering in New York. This made him interested in the California Gold Rush, a time when many people rushed to California to find gold. Because of this interest, he moved to California in 1911.

He started his writing career by reviewing books for a newspaper called the San Francisco Chronicle. Later, he wrote his own columns for The San Francisco Examiner. These columns were named "Rediscovering San Francisco" and "Passing By." He sold his very first short story in the 1920s.

In 1937, Idwal Jones received a special award called a Newbery Medal Honor for his book Whistler's Van. This award is given to authors of outstanding books for children.

Famous Books

Idwal Jones wrote many books, and some of his most well-known works include The Vineyard and Ark of Empire: San Francisco's Montgomery Block.

The Vineyard

The Vineyard tells a story about people living in the Napa Valley area of California. These characters truly love the land where they live. The main character, Alda Pendle, learned how to grow grapes for wine from her father. After her father passed away, Alda's amazing skills made her very valuable to someone who owned a vineyard in Napa Valley.

Ark of Empire

Ark of Empire: San Francisco's Montgomery Block is a history book. It tells the story of an old and important building in San Francisco called the Montgomery Block. One version of the book has a subtitle that says "San Francisco's Unique Bohemia 1853–1953." This means the book covers a hundred years of the building's history and its special artistic community.

Later Life

Idwal Jones's first novel was called The Splendid Shilling, published in 1926. The story in this book was similar to his own life, moving from Wales to California during the Gold Rush era. In 1923, he married Olive Vere Wolf, and they traveled the world together. Idwal Jones passed away at his home in Laguna Beach, California.

More About Idwal Jones

• You can listen to two short radio readings of his work from the California Legacy Project:
  • "Dad Dunnaway" from his article "Farm, Rock, and Vine Folk"
  • "True Wine Grapes," from his book Vines in the Sun