Ruth Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ruth Park
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| Born | Rosina Ruth Lucia Park 24 August 1917 Auckland, New Zealand |
| Died | 14 December 2010 (aged 93) Sydney, Australia |
| Occupation | Author, novelist |
| Language | English |
| Notable works | The Harp in the South Playing Beatie Bow The Muddle-Headed Wombat |
| Notable awards | Miles Franklin Award (1977) |
| Spouse | D'Arcy Niland |
Rosina Ruth Lucia Park (born August 24, 1917 – died December 14, 2010) was an amazing author. She was born in New Zealand but became an Australian citizen. Ruth Park wrote many popular books for both adults and children.
Some of her most famous books include The Harp in the South (1948) and Playing Beatie Bow (1980). She also created a fun children's radio show called The Muddle-Headed Wombat. This show was so popular that it became a series of books too!
Contents
Ruth Park's Writing Journey
Ruth Park started her writing career in 1942. She was asked to write a story for a children's radio show called the ABC Children's Session. She created a series called The Wide-awake Bunyip.
The Muddle-Headed Wombat Series
In 1951, the main actor for her radio show sadly passed away. Ruth Park decided to change the story. This is how The Muddle-Headed Wombat was born! The show was a huge hit on the radio until 1970. Because it was so loved, Ruth Park wrote many children's books about the Muddle-Headed Wombat from 1962 to 1982.
Stories About Sydney Life
Her first novel for adults was The Harp in the South, published in 1948. This book told a very real story about families living in a poor area of Sydney, Australia. It was translated into 37 languages, which is a lot!
Some people found the book a bit shocking because it showed a tough side of Sydney. They said there were no slums there. But Ruth Park and her husband, D'Arcy Niland, had lived in a poor part of Surry Hills. They knew the story was true. This book has been printed continuously since it first came out.
Ruth Park also wrote a children's novel about Sydney life called Playing Beatie Bow (1980). It also explores the city's past.
Other Books and Works
After her first success, Ruth Park wrote a follow-up novel in 1949 called Poor Man's Orange. In the 1950s, even while raising her family, she wrote a lot. She wrote over 5,000 radio scripts! She also wrote many articles for newspapers and magazines.
She continued to write many other novels, like Missus (1985), which was a story that happened before The Harp in the South. She also wrote scripts for movies and TV shows.
Ruth Park wrote two books about her own life. A Fence Around the Cuckoo (1992) is about her childhood in New Zealand. Fishing in the Styx (1993) tells about her life in Australia. She also wrote a novel about gold mining in New Zealand called One-a-pecker, Two-a-pecker (1957).
Later Life and Legacy
From 1974 to 1981, Ruth Park lived on Norfolk Island. She even owned a shop there that sold books and gifts. Later, she moved back to Sydney.
Ruth Park received many awards for her writing. In 1987, she was made a Member of the Order of Australia. This is a special honor for people who have done great things for Australia. She passed away peacefully in her sleep on December 14, 2010, when she was 93 years old.
Awards and Recognitions
Ruth Park won many awards for her amazing writing. Here are some of them:
- 1946: Best Novel award for The Harp in the South
- 1977: Miles Franklin Award for Swords and Crowns and Rings
- 1981: Children's Book of the Year Award for Playing Beatie Bow
- 1981: Ethel Turner Prize for Young People's Literature for When the Wind Changed
- 1982: Parents' Choice Award for Literature for Playing Beatie Bow
- 1982: Boston Globe–Horn Book Award for Playing Beatie Bow
- 1987: Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for her contributions to literature
- 1992: The Age Book of the Year#Non-fiction Award for A Fence around the Cuckoo
- 1994: Honorary Doctor of Letters by the University of New South Wales
- 2004: New South Wales Premier's Literary Awards#Special Award
- 2008: Dromkeen Medal
Ruth Park's Books
Ruth Park wrote many different types of books. Here are some of them:
Novels for Adults
- The Harp in the South (1948)
- Poor Man's Orange (1949)
- The Witch's Thorn (1951)
- A Power of Roses (1953)
- Serpent's Delight (1953)
- Pink Flannel (1955)
- One-a-Pecker, Two-a-Pecker (1957)
- Swords and Crowns and Rings (1977)
- Missus (1985)
Children's Books
- The Hole in the Hill (1961)
- The Ship's Cat (1961)
- The Muddle-Headed Wombat series (1962–82)
- Airlift for Grandee (1962)
- The Road to Christmas (1962)
- The Road Under the Sea (1962)
- The Shaky Island (1962)
- Uncle Matt's Mountain (1962)
- The Ring for the Sorcerer (1967)
- The Sixpenny Island (1968)
- Nuki and the Sea Serpent: a Maori Legend (1969)
- The Runaway Bus (1969)
- Callie's Castle (1974)
- The Gigantic Balloon (1975)
- Merchant Campbell (1976)
- Roger Bandy (1977)
- Come Danger, Come Darkness (1978)
- Playing Beatie Bow (1980)
- When the Wind Changed (1980)
- The Big Brass Key (1983)
- My Sister Sif (1986)
- Callie's Family (1988)
- Things in Corners (1989) – short stories
- James (1991)
Non-fiction Books
- The Drums Go Bang (1956), written with D'Arcy Niland
- The Companion Guide to Sydney (1973)
- Norfolk Island and Lord Howe Island (1982)
- The Sydney We Love (1983)
- The Tasmania We Love (1987)
- A Fence Around the Cuckoo (1992), her autobiography
- Fishing in the Styx (1993), her autobiography
- Home Before Dark: The Story of Les Darcy, a Great Australian Hero (1995), with Rafe Champion
See also
In Spanish: Ruth Park para niños
