Norman Hunter (writer) facts for kids

Norman George Lorimer Hunter (born 1899, died 1995) was a British author who wrote books for children. He is most famous for creating the funny character, Professor Branestawm.

Early Life and War Service

Norman Hunter was born in Sydenham, England, on November 23, 1899. He went to Beckenham County School for Boys. When he was young, he volunteered to join the London Irish Rifles. He served in the First World War, which was a very big war that happened from 1914 to 1918.

Norman Hunter's Career Journey

After the First World War, Norman Hunter became an advertising copywriter. This means he wrote words for advertisements to help sell products. In the 1930s, he also worked as a stage magician in Bournemouth. He wrote many books about different topics. These included books on how to write for advertising, brain-teasers, and magic tricks.

The Amazing Professor Branestawm Series

Norman Hunter's most famous works are the books about Professor Branestawm. This character was first created for radio shows. The very first book, The Incredible Adventures of Professor Branestawm, came out in 1933. It had drawings by W. Heath Robinson. The second book, Professor Branestawm's Treasure Hunt, was published in 1937.

After a long break, Norman Hunter wrote more Professor Branestawm books in the 1970s. Many different artists helped bring Professor Branestawm to life with their illustrations. Some of these artists included George Worsley Adamson, Gerald Rose, David Hughes, Jill McDonald, and Derek Cousins. Many of his books were re-released as Puffin Books, making them popular with many young readers.

Later Life and Writing

During the Second World War, Norman Hunter moved back to London. He lived on a boat on the Thames. In 1949, he moved to South Africa for work and stopped writing fiction for a while.

After he retired in 1970, he returned to London. Around this time, a TV show called Professor Branestawm was made. He continued writing in his retirement. His very last book was published in 1983.

Key Works by Norman Hunter

Norman Hunter wrote many different kinds of books. He was especially known for his funny stories and books about magic.

• Simplified Conjuring for All (1923) – A book about easy magic tricks.
• The Incredible Adventures of Professor Branestawm (1933) – The first book about the famous professor.
• Professor Branestawm's Treasure Hunt (1937) – Another adventure with Professor Branestawm.
• The Puffin Book of Magic (1968) – A popular magic book for young readers.
• The Peculiar Triumph of Professor Branestawm (1970) – A later book in the series.
• Professor Branestawm Up the Pole (1972) – More silly adventures with the professor.
• Professor Branestawm's Great Revolution (1974) – One of his later Branestawm stories.
• Professor Branestawm's Do-It-Yourself Handbook (1976) – A fun book with ideas for kids.
• Professor Branestawm Round the Bend (1977) – Another exciting Branestawm book.
• The Best of Branestawm (1980) – A collection of his best Professor Branestawm stories.
• Professor Branestawm's Crunchy Crockery (1983) – One of his last books about the professor.