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Alexander, Lloyd (Lloyd Alexander)
For seven enchanting decades, Lloyd toiled at his craft, gifting the world 48 delightful books translated into 20 languages. His collection of novels is so vast that one might say it could fill the libraries of an entire fairy-tale kingdom!
The tale of Lloyd's journey to literary stardom reads like a fantasy novel in itself. It began in the beautiful land of Wales, a place of legends, dragons, and castles. During his days as a young warrior (well, not a warrior, but he served in the army during World War II), Lloyd found himself captivated by the Welsh landscapes and mythology. The Mabinogion, a collection of Welsh tales, especially tickled his fancy. His heart was spellbound, and his mind was set: he was to become the bard of the modern era.
After bidding adieu to Wales, Lloyd returned to his homeland, wielding the pen as his sword and paper as his shield. His most famous creation was The Chronicles of Prydain, a high fantasy series with five enchanting volumes. The last volume, “The High King”, was so epic that it was crowned with the 1969 Newbery Medal – the equivalent of a knighthood in children’s literature!
The Chronicles of Prydain revolve around the escapades of Taran, an Assistant Pig-Keeper. Yes, you read that right – an Assistant Pig-Keeper! Taran dreams of swashbuckling adventures, and much like any hero in a fantasy story, he got what he wished for (and then some!). Along the way, he learns life lessons, faces villains, and eventually must decide if he wants to be the High King of Prydain.
But that's not all! His quill thirsted for more adventures, so he wrote “The Marvelous Misadventures of Sebastian” in 1970. This story was like a feisty phoenix; it was first rejected, but Lloyd rewrote it three times, and it soared to win the National Book Award in 1971.
Not to mention, Lloyd was an affable wizard, sharing his wisdom as an author-in-residence at Temple University. There, he was akin to a visiting uncle, bringing joy and enchantment before leaving the parents to deal with the daily mundane.
Our gallant bard was not a man to rest on his laurels. His later works include Westmark and Vesper Holly series, and he even conjured up a children's literary magazine, Cricket, sprinkling the world with more enchantment. You can search the Nest for articles on Alexander, Lloyd (Lloyd Alexander) over at https://www.SFcrowsnest.info/tag/Lloyd-Alexander
