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 |
Meet John Geoffrey Hyett Dickinson, an English author born in June 1962. He is famous for writing exciting novels, especially for young adults. His very first book, The Cup of the World, was published in 2004. He also wrote a novel for adults called The Lightstep, which came out in 2008.
John Dickinson lives in Painswick, a lovely place in Gloucestershire, England.
Contents
About John Dickinson
John Dickinson is the oldest son of another well-known author, Peter Dickinson, and his mother, Mary Rose Barnard. He has two sisters and one brother. One of his sisters, Philippa Dickinson, is also involved with books as an editor.
John went to St Paul's School (London) and then studied History at Trinity College, Oxford. He did very well in his studies, earning top grades.
His Career Journey
Before becoming a full-time writer, John worked for the Ministry of Defence (MOD) from 1985 to 1998. This is a government department that helps keep the country safe. During this time, he also worked with the Cabinet Office and the UK team at NATO. NATO is an alliance of countries that work together for peace and safety. He helped with plans for new countries to join NATO.
In 2002, John decided to take a break from his government job to focus on writing. He wrote two novels that were not published. But his third book, The Cup of the World, was published in 2004. It was released by David Fickling Books, which is part of Random House Children’s Books.
John Dickinson married Pippa Thomson in 1992, and they have two children.
John Dickinson's Books
John Dickinson is known for his fantasy novels, especially those written for young adults. These books often explore deep ideas and exciting adventures.
Fantasy Adventures
He has written three fantasy novels that are mainly for young adults:
- The Cup of the World (published in 2004)
- The Widow and the King (published in 2005)
- The Fatal Child (published in 2008)
The Cup of the World and The Widow and the King have been popular in the UK, the United States, and Brazil. The Cup of the World has even been published in Thailand!
These books follow a young woman named Phaedra and later her son, Ambrose. They learn about the challenges and consequences that have affected a small medieval kingdom since it began. Critics have praised John's writing style. Jan Mark from The Guardian newspaper called his writing "detailed, glowing rich, and unforgettable." Amanda Craig from The Times newspaper said his first two fantasy novels were "The strangest novels I’ve come across since William Morris’s fairytales."
Other Novels
John Dickinson has also written books for adult readers. His third published book, The Lightstep (2008), is a historical novel. It takes place in Germany during the 1700s. The story is about a character named Michel Wéry, who used to fight for a republic but became disappointed by the violence of the French Revolution. He then becomes a spy for a small German state.
His science fiction novel, WE, was published on January 7, 2010. Philip Ardagh, who reviewed the book for The Guardian, said that the world John created in the book felt "totally convincing and claustrophic." He also noted that John used "intellectual argument and internal conflict" to make the story very powerful.
