John Dickinson (author) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
John Dickinson
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| Born | John Geoffrey Hyett Dickinson June 1962 (age 63) London, England, United Kingdom |
| Occupation | Novelist |
| Nationality | British |
| Notable works | The Cup of the World |
| Relatives | Peter Dickinson Philippa Dickinson |
John Geoffrey Hyett Dickinson, born in June 1962, is an English writer. He is known for his books, especially those for young adults. His first book, The Cup of the World, came out in 2004. He also wrote The Lightstep for adult readers, which was published in 2008. John Dickinson lives in a place called Painswick, in Gloucestershire, England.
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About John Dickinson
John Dickinson is the oldest son of the writer Peter Dickinson and Mary Rose Barnard. He has two sisters and one brother. One of his sisters, Philippa Dickinson, is a book editor.
Education and Early Career
John went to St Paul's School (London) and then to Trinity College, Oxford. At Oxford, he studied History and earned top grades.
From 1985 to 1998, John worked for the Ministry of Defence (MOD). This is a government department that helps protect the country. During this time, he also worked for the Cabinet Office from 1993 to 1995. The Cabinet Office helps the Prime Minister and government ministers.
He also worked with the UK team at NATO. NATO is a group of countries that work together for safety and defense. He helped countries like Poland and Hungary join NATO in 2004.
Becoming a Writer
In 2002, John Dickinson left his job at the MOD. He took a break to become a full-time writer. He wrote two books that were not published. His third book, The Cup of the World, was published in 2004. It was released by David Fickling Books, a part of Random House Children’s Books.
In 1992, John married Pippa Thomson. They have two children together.
John Dickinson's Books
John Dickinson has written several books. Many of them are fantasy novels for young adults.
Fantasy Novels for Young Adults
He has written three fantasy novels. These include The Cup of the World (2004), The Widow and the King (2005), and The Fatal Child (2008). These books are mainly for young adult readers. The Cup of the World and The Widow and the King have been published in the United States, Brazil, and the UK. The Cup of the World has also been published in Thailand.
The stories in The Cup of the World and its follow-up books are about a young woman named Phaedra. Later, the stories follow her son, Ambrose. They learn about the challenges and problems that have affected a small kingdom since it began.
Reviewers have praised his writing. Jan Mark from The Guardian newspaper said that the writing in The Cup of the World was "detailed, glowing rich, and unforgettable." Amanda Craig from The Times newspaper said that The Cup of the World and The Widow and the King were "The strangest novels I’ve come across since William Morris’s fairytales."
Other Novels
John Dickinson's third published book, The Lightstep (2008), is a historical novel for adults. It is set in Germany in the 1700s. The story is about Michel Wéry, who used to fight for change. He becomes a spy for a small German state after seeing the terrible events of the French Revolution.
His science fiction novel, WE, was published on January 7, 2010. Philip Ardagh reviewed the book for The Guardian. He said the setting was "totally convincing and claustrophic." He also noted that John Dickinson used "intellectual argument and internal conflict" to make the story very powerful.
