Mary Norton (writer) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mary Norton
|
|
|---|---|
Mary Norton
|
|
| Born | Kathleen Mary Pearson 10 December 1903 London, England, UK |
| Died | 29 August 1992 (aged 88) Bideford, Devon, England, UK |
| Occupation | Writer |
| Nationality | British |
| Genre | Children's fantasy novels |
| Notable works |
|
| Notable awards | Carnegie Medal 1952 |
Mary Norton (born Kathleen Mary Pearson; 10 December 1903 – 29 August 1992) was a famous English writer. She wrote many popular children's books. She is most known for her exciting The Borrowers series of low fantasy novels.
The Borrowers books are about tiny people. These small characters live secretly in human homes. They "borrow" things from humans to survive. The first book in the series was published in 1952.
Mary Norton won the important Carnegie Medal in 1952. This award was for The Borrowers. It recognized it as the best children's book by a British author that year. Her books The Magic Bed Knob and Bonfires and Broomsticks were made into the 1971 Disney film Bedknobs and Broomsticks.
Contents
Mary Norton's Life Story
Kathleen Mary Pearson was born in London, England. Her father was a doctor. She grew up in a large Georgian house. This house was in Leighton Buzzard.
Today, her childhood home is part of Leighton Middle School. Many believe this house was the inspiration for The Borrowers. It is where the tiny Borrowers might have lived.
Mary Norton married Robert Charles Norton in 1926. They had four children together. Her son, also named Robert Norton, became a printer.
Starting Her Writing Career
During World War II, Mary Norton worked for the War Office. In 1940, her family moved to the United States. She started writing her first books while living in New York City.
Her first book was The Magic Bed Knob; or, How to Become a Witch in Ten Easy Lessons. It came out in 1945. Its follow-up, Bonfires and Broomsticks, was published two years later. These two stories were later combined into one book called Bed-Knob and Broomstick.
These stories became the basis for the well-known 1971 Disney movie Bedknobs and Broomsticks.
Later Years and Legacy
Later in her life, Mary Norton lived in a village called Hartland in Devon, England. She passed away in Bideford, Devon, on 29 August 1992.
Mary Norton's Books
Mary Norton wrote many beloved books for children. Her most famous works are the Borrowers series.
- The Magic Bedknob (1944)
- Bonfires and Broomsticks (1947)
- These two books were later put together as Bedknob and Broomstick (1957). After the 1971 Disney movie, the title was often changed to Bedknobs and Broomsticks.
The Borrowers Series
- The Borrowers (1952) – This book won the Carnegie Medal.
- The Borrowers Afield (1955)
- The Borrowers Afloat (1959)
- The Borrowers Aloft (1961)
- Poor Stainless: A New Story About the Borrowers (1966)
- The Borrowers Avenged (1982)
Mary Norton also wrote a book not related to the Borrowers:
- Are All the Giants Dead? (1975)
Her books have been illustrated by different artists. In the UK, Diana Stanley and Pauline Baynes illustrated the Borrowers novels. In the U.S., Joe and Beth Krush illustrated all five books.
Movies and TV Shows Based on Her Books
Many of Mary Norton's stories have been turned into movies and TV shows.
- The 1971 Disney film Bedknobs and Broomsticks was based on her books The Magic Bedknob and Bonfires and Broomsticks. It starred Angela Lansbury.
There have been several adaptations of The Borrowers:
- The Borrowers: A TV movie from America in 1973.
- The Borrowers: A BBC TV series from 1992. It had a sequel in 1993 called The Return of the Borrowers.
- The Borrowers: A film from 1997 with a British and American cast. It included actors like John Goodman and Tom Felton.
- The Secret World of Arrietty: A Japanese animated film from Studio Ghibli in 2010.
- The Borrowers: A British film from 2011. It starred Stephen Fry and Victoria Wood.
Her books have also been adapted for the stage as plays.
See also
In Spanish: Mary Norton para niños
