Monica Furlong facts for kids

Monica Furlong (17 January 1930 – 14 January 2003) was a British author, journalist, and activist. She was born at Kenton near Harrow, north-west of London and died at Umberleigh in Devon. An obituary called her the Church of England's "most influential and creative layperson of the post-war period."

Career

Many of Furlong's books reflected a deep interest in religion and spirituality. She wrote biographies of John Bunyan, Trappist monk Thomas Merton, Thérèse of Lisieux, and Alan Watts, as well as books covering such diverse topics as the spiritual life of aboriginals, medieval women mystics, and the Church of England. She also wrote a popular series of children's novels set in medieval England and Scotland: Wise Child, Juniper, and Colman. Furlong's autobiography, Bird of Paradise, was published in 1995.

Furlong began her writing career in 1956 as a feature writer for Truth magazine, where she met Bernard Levin, who became a lifelong friend. She then joined The Spectator as its religious correspondent from 1958 until 1960, before moving to the Daily Mail, where she remained for the next eight years.

Children's fiction

Wise Child

• Wise Child (1987)
• Juniper (1990)
• Colman (2004)