Pauline Clarke facts for kids

Pauline Clarke (born May 19, 1921 – died July 23, 2013) was an English author. She wrote books for different ages. For younger kids, she used the name Helen Clare. For older kids, she wrote as Pauline Clarke. Later, for adults, she used her married name, Pauline Hunter Blair. Her most famous book is The Twelve and the Genii. This children's novel won the Carnegie Medal in 1962. This is a very important award for children's books. She also won the Lewis Carroll Shelf Award and the German Deutscher Jugendliteraturpreis.

About Pauline Clarke

Anne Pauline Clarke was born in Kirkby-in-Ashfield, England, in 1921. She later lived in Bottisham, Cambridgeshire. She went to schools in London and Colchester.

Pauline studied English at Somerville College, Oxford, until 1943. After college, she worked as a journalist. She also wrote for magazines made for children. From 1948 to 1972, she wrote many books for young readers.

In 1969, Pauline married Peter Hunter Blair, a historian. She helped edit one of his history books. Pauline Clarke passed away on July 23, 2013, when she was 94 years old.

Her Books for Children

Pauline Clarke wrote many kinds of children's books. These included fantasy stories, funny family stories, historical novels, and poetry.

The Pekinese Princess

The Pekinese Princess (1948) was Pauline Clarke's first book. It is a fantasy story set in ancient China. It features talking animals and trees. It's a world like humans live in, but without any people. The story ends with the kingdom being lifted to a special mountain. This is where immortal beings live. The book explains why some Pekinese dogs are still on Earth. They are the ones who slipped out when the kingdom was lifted.

Smith's Hoard

Smith's Hoard (1955) is also known as The Golden Collar. It's a mystery story set in Britain during school holidays. A brother and sister go to stay with their great-aunt in the countryside. On their train trip, they meet a man who deals in old jewelry. He shows them a strange gold item. The children then try to solve a mystery. This mystery involves secret digging for old treasures. It also includes the theft of historical items. There's even a ghost of an old Celtic smith! The younger sister tells the story. By the end, the mystery is solved.

Torolv the Fatherless

The story of Torolv the Fatherless (1959) is about an old English poem. The poem is called The Battle of Maldon. It tells about a big defeat by Danish raiders in 991. This battle happened in Maldon, Essex. The raiders were led by a Viking named Anlaf. Pauline Clarke included her own translation of the poem at the end of the book.

The Boy With the Erpingham Hood

Clarke's The Boy With the Erpingham Hood (1956) is a historical novel. It is set in England in the early 1400s. The story follows a made-up boy named Simon Forester. He gets involved with real people and events. These events lead up to the famous Battle of Agincourt in 1415.

Keep the Pot Boiling (1961) is about a vicar's family in modern times. A vicar is a type of priest. The family tries to find fun things to do. The vicar in the story has what we now call bipolar disorder.

The Twelve and the Genii

Pauline Clarke had her biggest success with The Twelve and the Genii. Faber published it in 1962. She won the Carnegie Medal for this book. This award is for the best children's book by a British author. She also won the German Kinderbuchpreis. In the U.S., it was called The Return of the Twelve. It was added to the Lewis Carroll Shelf Award list in 1963. Many of her books, including this one, were illustrated by Cecil Leslie.

The Two Faces of Silenus

Clarke's last children's novel was The Two Faces of Silenus (1972). It is a fantasy story. Ancient myths come to life in a modern setting. Rufus and Drusilla are visiting Italy with their parents. Their father is at a history conference. The children accidentally set free an ancient god-satyr named Silenus. They also free his enemy, Medusa.

Her Books for Adults

Pauline Clarke wrote for adults using her married name, Pauline Hunter Blair.

The Nelson Boy

Her first adult book was The Nelson Boy (1999). This book is a detailed historical story. It tells about the childhood of Horatio Nelson. He was a famous British naval hero. She later wrote a second book about his early sea voyages.

Warscape

Warscape (2002) was written when Pauline Hunter Blair was in her late 70s. This novel looks at the lives of British people during World War II. It starts in November 1943. Pauline Clarke was 22 years old in 1943. The book covers major war events until December 1945. The main character is Laura Cardew. She is a young woman who just finished Oxford University. She is hired to work in a secret wartime intelligence office. She helps analyze reports from spies in Europe. These reports warn about a new German weapon, the V1 "buzz bomb."

The characters in the book often talk about many famous authors and artists. They mention Dickens, Tolstoy, Mozart, and Shakespeare. They also talk about famous people from that time. These include actors, musicians, and radio personalities. This shows how much culture and knowledge shaped the lives of the characters.

Jacob's Ladder

Jacob's Ladder (2003) was written when she was in her early 80s. It is a novel about village life. It focuses on middle-aged people getting older. They deal with illnesses, losing their partners, and trying to understand life. They also try to find human connection and love again. The book includes ideas and quotes from Egyptian mythology. It also mentions different writers, music, and art. Important topics in the book are religious belief, mystery, and not believing in God.

One character in the book wants to be a novelist. Their idea for a new book closes the novel. It talks about how life continues after death. It compares it to the sea flowing in and out.