Peter Carter (author) facts for kids
Peter Carter (born August 13, 1929 – died July 21, 1999) was a British author. He was best known for writing children's books. Most of his books were historical novels, which are stories set in the past.
Peter Carter won several important awards for his writing. These included the Guardian Prize and two Young Observer Prizes. He also won the German Preis der Leseratten. Many of his books were nominated for other awards. His stories were popular around the world. They were translated into at least six different languages. These languages ranged from Japanese to Portuguese.
Peter Carter's Life Story
Peter Carter was born in Manchester, England. He was one of eight children in his family. He left school when he was 14 years old. Later, he took evening classes to study art and philosophy.
When he was 30, he went to Wadham College at Oxford University. He earned a master's degree in English Literature in 1962. After college, he became a school teacher. He taught from 1963 until 1976.
In 1976, he became a full-time writer. He continued writing until he passed away in 1999. He died from a sudden health issue while writing at his home in Warwick.
Peter Carter was married more than once and had a stepson. His first wife, Lois Wilkinson, passed away while he was at Oxford. He later married Gudrun Willege, a German photographer. For a time, he lived in Hamburg, Germany.
Awards and Famous Books
Peter Carter won the Guardian Children's Fiction Prize in 1981. He won it for his book The Sentinels. This award is given each year to the best children's book by a British author who has not won it before. A group of British children's writers chooses the winner.
His book Children of the Book (1982) is a historical novel. It tells a story about the 1683 Siege of Vienna. This book also won the Young Observer/Rank Organisation Fiction prize. It also received the Preis der Leseratten award in Germany.
Another one of his books, Under Goliath (1977), was highly praised. It was a runner-up for the Carnegie Medal. This medal is given to the best children's book by a British subject each year.
Peter Carter's Books
All of Peter Carter's books were published by Oxford University Press.
- The Black Lamp (1973) – This book had illustrations by David Harris.
- The Gates of Paradise (1974) – Illustrated by Fermin Rocker.
- Madatan (1974) – Illustrated by Victor Ambrus.
- Mao (1976) – This was a biography about Mao Zedong.
- Under Goliath (1977) – This book was highly recommended for the Carnegie Medal.
- The Sentinels (1980) – This book won the Guardian Prize and the Premio Europeo di Letteratura Giovanile.
- Children of the Book (1982) – This book won the Young Observer/Rank Organisation Fiction prize and the Preis der Leseratten.
- Captain Teachum's Buried Treasure (1989) – Illustrated by Korky Paul. Korky Paul's work for this book was shortlisted for the Kate Greenaway Medal.
- Bury the Dead (1987) – This book won the Young Observer Teenage Fiction award.
- Leaving Cheyenne (1990) – In the U.S., this book was called Borderlands.
- The Hunted (1993)
- Fairy Tales from Grimm (1999) – Peter Carter retold these classic fairy tales.
