John Wyndham facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
John Wyndham
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| Born |
John Wyndham Parkes Lucas Beynon Harris
10 July 1903 Dorridge, Warwickshire, England
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| Died | 11 March 1969 (aged 65) Petersfield, Hampshire, England
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| Occupation | Science fiction writer |
| Spouse(s) |
Grace Wilson
(m. 1963) |
John Wyndham Parkes Lucas Beynon Harris (born July 10, 1903 – died March 11, 1969) was an English science fiction writer. He is best known for his books published under the pen name John Wyndham. He also used other names like John Beynon and Lucas Parkes.
Many of his stories are set in worlds after a big disaster. His most famous books include The Day of the Triffids (1951) and The Midwich Cuckoos (1957). Both of these books were later made into popular movies.
About John Wyndham
His Early Life
John Wyndham was born in a village called Dorridge in England. His parents were Gertrude Parkes and George Beynon Harris. His father was a lawyer.
When John was eight years old, his parents separated. He then went to several different schools. These included Edgbaston High School for Boys and Bedales School. He left school when he was 18.
Starting His Career
After school, Wyndham tried many different jobs. He worked in farming, law, and advertising. But he mostly relied on money from his family.
In 1925, he started writing to earn money. By 1931, he was selling short stories to American science fiction magazines. His first story, "Worlds to Barter," came out in 1931. He used the name John B. Harris. Later, he used 'John Beynon Harris' and then 'John Beynon'.
He also wrote three novels using the name John Beynon. Two were science fiction, and one was a detective story.
During World War II
During World War II, Wyndham first worked as a censor. This meant he checked information to make sure it was safe. He also helped as a firewatcher during the London Blitz. He was part of the Home Guard, which protected Britain.
Later, he joined the British Army. He worked with codes and messages. He was part of the Normandy landings, which was a very important event in the war. He landed in France a few days after D-Day.
He wrote many letters to his partner, Grace Wilson, during the war. He shared his thoughts about the war and his love for her.
After the War
After the war, Wyndham went back to writing. He still used the name John Beynon. In 1951, he published The Day of the Triffids. This was the first time he used the name John Wyndham.
The book was a huge success. It made John Wyndham a very important science fiction writer. People thought it was his first book, but he had written before.
He wrote six more novels as John Wyndham. He also published story collections like Jizzle and The Seeds of Time. These collections included some of his older stories.
His Marriage
In 1963, John Wyndham married Grace Isobel Wilson. They had known each other for over thirty years. They lived near Petersfield, Hampshire, until he passed away in 1969. He was 65 years old.
His Legacy
After John Wyndham died, some of his stories that had not been published were released. His older works were also printed again.
In 2015, an alley in Hampstead, London, was named Triffid Alley. This was to remember him because the alley appears in The Day of the Triffids.
His Works
Novels
Early Novels (different names)
- The Secret People (1935), as John Beynon
- Foul Play Suspected (1935), as John Beynon
- Planet Plane (1936), as John Beynon; also known as The Space Machine
Published as John Wyndham
- The Day of the Triffids (1951)
- The Kraken Wakes (1953), also known as Out of the Deeps
- The Chrysalids (1955), also known as Re-Birth
- The Midwich Cuckoos (1957)
- The Outward Urge (1959), as by John Wyndham and Lucas Parkes
- Trouble with Lichen (1960)
- Chocky (1968)
Published After He Died
- Web (1979)
- Plan for Chaos (2009)
Short Story Collections
Published During His Lifetime
- Jizzle (1954)
- The Seeds of Time (1956)
- Tales of Gooseflesh and Laughter (1956) (US edition)
- Consider Her Ways and Others (1961)
- The Infinite Moment (1961) (US edition)
Published After He Died
- Sleepers of Mars (1973)
- The Best of John Wyndham (1973)
- Wanderers of Time (1973)
- Exiles on Asperus (1979), as John Beynon
- No Place Like Earth (2003)
Poems
- "Hiroshima" (1974), as John Beynon
Adaptations (Movies and TV Shows)
Many of John Wyndham's stories have been made into films and TV series:
- Village of the Damned (1960), based on The Midwich Cuckoos
- "The Long Spoon" (1961), a TV episode based on his short story
- "Maria" (1961), a TV episode based on his short story "Jizzle"
- "Dumb Martian" (1962), a TV episode based on his story
- The Day of the Triffids (1963), a film based on his novel
- Children of the Damned (1964), a film based on The Midwich Cuckoos
- "Consider Her Ways" (1964), a TV episode based on his story
- "No Place Like Earth" (1965), a TV episode based on his stories
- "Random Quest" (1969), a TV episode based on his story
- Quest for Love (1971), a film based on "Random Quest"
- The Day of the Triffids (1981), a TV miniseries
- Chocky (1984), a TV series based on his novel
- Chocky's Children (1985), a TV series continuing Chocky
- Chocky's Challenge (1986), another TV series continuing Chocky
- Village of the Damned (1995), a film remake
- The Day of the Triffids (2009), a TV miniseries remake
- The Midwich Cuckoos (2022), a TV miniseries remake
See also
In Spanish: John Wyndham para niños
