Anne Fine
Encyclopedia
Anne Fine, OBE FRSL (b. 7 December 1947, Leicester
, England) is a British
author
best known for her children's books
, of which she has written more than 50. She also writes for adults. She was appointed the second Children's Laureate
, in succession to Quentin Blake
, holding the position from 2001 to 2003.
and graduated in politics from University of Warwick
. She currently lives in County Durham
, England. She is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature
and was awarded an OBE
in 2003. She was married to the philosopher Kit Fine
.
and Goggle-Eyes
, which was adapted for television
by writer Deborah Hall for the BBC
. Twentieth Century Fox filmed her satirical novel Madame Doubtfire
as Mrs. Doubtfire
, starring Robin Williams
. Her books for younger children include Bill's New Frock
and How to Write Really Badly. Her work has been translated into 27 languages.
Nobody has ever treated Ian Laidlow in a natural way. Disfigured by hideous facial scars he had never been treated with anything other than distant courtesy. But then Alicia Davie, a careless, ignorant young student breaks this pattern by laughing in his face. Alicia goes on to infiltrate the hidden man, going through the face he presents to the world, through his scar patch, to discover the hidden man, never realising that she is playing with fire...
A glorious tirade against the grind of motherhood. Lilith Collett lives in an Eden, a paradise that enchanted the childhoods of her children. Now if any one of them dares to defy her in the smallest matter, she destroys yet another part of the garden and of their childhood. Enter an archangel, Miguel-Angel Arqueso Algaron Perez de Vega, under whose spell the downtrodden Barbara dares to defy her mother. When Williams lover Casper weighs in in his subtle way the fate of the Colletts and their garden are finally and unexpectedly sealed.
A philosopher spends his summer with his children, his ex-wife and his ex-gardener (his ex-wife's new husband) to write his autobiography. His notes are interspersed with his wife's side of the story, and though philosophy was always easier for Oliver than real life, real life is about to come crashing down around him.
Leicester
Leicester is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England, and the county town of Leicestershire. The city lies on the River Soar and at the edge of the National Forest...
, England) is a British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
author
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
best known for her children's books
Children's literature
Children's literature is for readers and listeners up to about age twelve; it is often defined in four different ways: books written by children, books written for children, books chosen by children, or books chosen for children. It is often illustrated. The term is used in senses which sometimes...
, of which she has written more than 50. She also writes for adults. She was appointed the second Children's Laureate
Children's Laureate
Children's Laureate is a position awarded in the UK once every two years to a distinguished writer or illustrator of children's books. A biannual bursary of £10,000 is offered...
, in succession to Quentin Blake
Quentin Blake
Quentin Saxby Blake, CBE, FCSD, RDI, is an English cartoonist, illustrator and children's author, well-known for his collaborations with writer Roald Dahl.-Education:...
, holding the position from 2001 to 2003.
Education and awards
She was educated at Northampton High SchoolNorthampton High School
Northampton High School is a private selective day school for girls in Hardingstone, Northampton, England.- Location :The school is about from Northampton town centre along the Newport Pagnell road which separates the school from Wootton.- History :The school was founded in 1878 by a committee of...
and graduated in politics from University of Warwick
University of Warwick
The University of Warwick is a public research university located in Coventry, United Kingdom...
. She currently lives in County Durham
County Durham
County Durham is a ceremonial county and unitary district in north east England. The county town is Durham. The largest settlement in the ceremonial county is the town of Darlington...
, England. She is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature
Royal Society of Literature
The Royal Society of Literature is the "senior literary organisation in Britain". It was founded in 1820 by George IV, in order to "reward literary merit and excite literary talent". The Society's first president was Thomas Burgess, who later became the Bishop of Salisbury...
and was awarded an OBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
in 2003. She was married to the philosopher Kit Fine
Kit Fine
Kit Fine is Silver Professor of Philosophy and Mathematics at New York University. He previously taught for several years at UCLA...
.
Books
Her books for older children include the award winning The Tulip TouchThe Tulip Touch
The Tulip Touch is a children's novel by Anne Fine published in 1996.Natalie lives with her family: her father, who is a hotel manager, and her mother, who lavishes attention on her younger brother Julius. They go to live at a hotel called 'The Palace' and Natalie meets a strange girl called...
and Goggle-Eyes
Goggle-Eyes
Goggle-Eyes is a children's novel by Anne Fine, first published in 1989. The book won the Carnegie Medal and the Guardian Children's Fiction Award. American editions are titled My War with Goggle-Eyes....
, which was adapted for television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
by writer Deborah Hall for the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
. Twentieth Century Fox filmed her satirical novel Madame Doubtfire
Madame Doubtfire
Madame Doubtfire, known as Alias Madame Doubtfire in the United States, is a 1987 novel for young adults, about a family with divorced parents. It was adapted into the film Mrs...
as Mrs. Doubtfire
Mrs. Doubtfire
Mrs. Doubtfire is a 1993 American comedy film starring Robin Williams and Sally Field and based on the novel Madame Doubtfire by Anne Fine. It was directed by Chris Columbus and distributed by 20th Century Fox. It won the Academy Award for Best Makeup...
, starring Robin Williams
Robin Williams
Robin McLaurin Williams is an American actor and comedian. Rising to fame with his role as the alien Mork in the TV series Mork and Mindy, and later stand-up comedy work, Williams has performed in many feature films since 1980. He won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance...
. Her books for younger children include Bill's New Frock
Bill's New Frock
Bill's New Frock is about a young transvestite who enjoys wearing pink frocks and likes eating chubbawubbas. book by Anne Fine and illustrated by Philippe Dupasquier for younger readers, first published in 1989, and reissued by Egmont in a new edition on 1 August 2002. The story concerns Bill...
and How to Write Really Badly. Her work has been translated into 27 languages.
- The Stone Menagerie (1980) ISBN 0-7497-4603-3
- Round Behind the Ice-house (1981) ISBN 0-14-037363-2
- The Granny Project (1983) ISBN 0-7497-4832-X
- Madame DoubtfireMadame DoubtfireMadame Doubtfire, known as Alias Madame Doubtfire in the United States, is a 1987 novel for young adults, about a family with divorced parents. It was adapted into the film Mrs...
(US title: Alias Madame Doubtfire) (1987) ISBN 0-14-037355-1 - Goggle-EyesGoggle-EyesGoggle-Eyes is a children's novel by Anne Fine, first published in 1989. The book won the Carnegie Medal and the Guardian Children's Fiction Award. American editions are titled My War with Goggle-Eyes....
(1989) ISBN 0-14-034071-8 - The Book of the Banshee (1991) ISBN 0-14-034704-6
- Flour BabiesFlour BabiesFlour Babies is a book written in 1992 by Anne Fine, aimed at older children, which won the Carnegie Medal.-Synopsis:The story centres around Simon Martin, a pupil in class 4C at an unnamed school. 4C is the class reserved for the school's worst students. As it so happens, a new student has...
(1992) ISBN 0-14-036147-2 - Step by Wicked StepStep by Wicked StepStep By Wicked Step is a children's book written by Anne Fine.-Chapter 1:On a wild and stormy night, five students, Claudia, Colin, Ralph, Pixie and Robbo, are sent ahead on a school trip to Old Harwick Hall. Instead of taking the school bus with Miss O'Dell and their other friends, they have to...
(1995) ISBN 0-14-036647-4 - The Tulip TouchThe Tulip TouchThe Tulip Touch is a children's novel by Anne Fine published in 1996.Natalie lives with her family: her father, who is a hotel manager, and her mother, who lavishes attention on her younger brother Julius. They go to live at a hotel called 'The Palace' and Natalie meets a strange girl called...
(1996) ISBN 0-14-037808-1 - Very Different (2001) ISBN 0-7497-4370-0 (short story collection)
- Up on Cloud Nine (2002) ISBN 0-385-60372-X
- Anne Fine: A Shame to Miss 3 (2002) ISBN 0-552-54869-3 (poetry anthology, selected by Anne Fine)
- On the Summerhouse Steps (2006) ISBN 0-552-55269-0 (Updated version of The Summer House Loon and The Other Darker NedThe Other Darker NedThe Other, Darker Ned is a 1979 novel written by author Anne Fine about a girl who hears her blind father complaining to his secretary that she only ever 'mopes' and he wishes that she would do something...
with new linking text) - The Road of BonesThe Road of BonesThe Road of Bones is a 2006 young adult novel written by Anne Fine. It was shortlisted for the 2007 Carnegie Medal. The judges described it as being "incredibly well-written" and having "political resonance for young people".-Setting:...
(2006) ISBN 0-385-61063-7 - Fly in the Ointment (2008) ISBN 978-0-552-77467-3
Books for middle children
- Anneli the Art Hater (1986) ISBN 1-4052-0186-X
- A Pack of LiarsA Pack of LiarsA Pack of Liars is a children fiction novel by Anne Fine. It was first published by Hamish Hamilton in 1988. It won the Dillons/Puffin Birmingham Book Award in 1991.-The Author:...
(1988) ISBN 0-14-032954-4 - Crummy Mummy and Me (1988) ISBN 0-14-032876-9
- A Sudden Puff of Glittering Smoke (1989)
- A Sudden Swirl of Icy Wind (1990)
- A Sudden Glow of Gold (1991)
- Genie, Genie, Genie (2004) ISBN 1-4052-1202-0 (The above three titles combined in one volume)
- The Country Pancake (1989) ISBN 1-4052-0062-6
- Bill's New FrockBill's New FrockBill's New Frock is about a young transvestite who enjoys wearing pink frocks and likes eating chubbawubbas. book by Anne Fine and illustrated by Philippe Dupasquier for younger readers, first published in 1989, and reissued by Egmont in a new edition on 1 August 2002. The story concerns Bill...
(1989), illustrated by Philippe DupasquierPhilippe DupasquierPhilippe Dupasquier is an author and illustrator of children’s books. He was born in Neuchâtel, Switzerland, but he went to art school in Lyon, France 1976-79, after which he became a freelance illustrator in London, England.-Bibliography:...
, ISBN 1-4052-0060-X - The Chicken Gave It To Me (1992) ISBN 1-4052-0078-2
- The Angel of Nitshill Road (1993) ISBN 1-4052-0184-3
- How To Write Really Badly (1996) ISBN 1-4052-0061-8
- Loudmouth Louis (1998) ISBN 0-14-130205-4
- Charm School (1999) ISBN 0-440-86400-3
- Telling Tales (Interview/Autobiography) (1999) ISBN 1-4052-0053-7
- Bad Dreams (2000) ISBN 0-440-86424-0
- A Shame to Miss 2 (2002) ISBN 0-552-54868-5 (poetry anthology, selected by Anne Fine)
- The More the Merrier (US title: The True Story of Christmas) (2003) ISBN 0-440-86585-9
- Frozen Billy (2004) ISBN 0-385-60769-5
- Ivan the TerribleIvan the Terrible (novel)Ivan the Terrible is a children's novel by Anne Fine, published in 2007. It won the Nestlé Children's Book Prize Silver Award.-Plot:It is Ivan's first day of school. He can only speak Russian and it's Boris's job to look after him and translate for him. St Edmund's is a civilized school, but Ivan...
(2007) ISBN 1-405-23324-9
Books for younger children
- Scaredy-Cat (1985) ISBN 1-4052-0251-3
- Stranger Danger? (1989) ISBN 0-14-130913-X
- Only a Show (1990) ISBN 0-14-038843-5
- The Worst Child I Ever Had (1991) ISBN 0-14-034799-2
- Design A Pram (1991) ISBN 1-4052-0137-1
- The Same Old Story Every Year (1992) ISBN 0-14-130275-5
- The Haunting of Pip Parker (1992) ISBN 0-7445-8294-6
- Press Play (1994) ISBN 1-4052-0185-1
- The Diary of a Killer Cat (1994) ISBN 0-14-036931-7
- Care of Henry (1996) ISBN 0-7445-8270-9
- Jennifer's Diary (1996) ISBN 0-14-038060-4
- Countdown (1996) ISBN 0-7497-4672-6
- Roll Over Roly (1999) ISBN 0-14-131504-0
- Notso Hotso (2001) ISBN 0-241-14138-9
- The Jamie and Angus Stories (2002) ISBN 0-7445-5965-0
- Anne Fine: A Shame to Miss 1 (2002) ISBN 0-552-54867-7 (poetry anthology, selected by Anne Fine)
- How to Cross the Road and Not Turn into a Pizza (2002) ISBN 0-7445-9001-9
- The Return of the Killer Cat (2003) ISBN 0-14-131719-1
- Nag Club (2004) ISBN 0-7445-9796-X
- It Moved! (2006) ISBN 1-4063-0013-6
Picture books
- Poor Monty (1991) ISBN 1-4052-1097-4
- Ruggles (2001) ISBN 0-86264-895-5
Books for adults
- The Killjoy (1986) ISBN 0-14-023842-5
Nobody has ever treated Ian Laidlow in a natural way. Disfigured by hideous facial scars he had never been treated with anything other than distant courtesy. But then Alicia Davie, a careless, ignorant young student breaks this pattern by laughing in his face. Alicia goes on to infiltrate the hidden man, going through the face he presents to the world, through his scar patch, to discover the hidden man, never realising that she is playing with fire...
- In Cold Domain (1994) ISBN 0-670-85609-6
A glorious tirade against the grind of motherhood. Lilith Collett lives in an Eden, a paradise that enchanted the childhoods of her children. Now if any one of them dares to defy her in the smallest matter, she destroys yet another part of the garden and of their childhood. Enter an archangel, Miguel-Angel Arqueso Algaron Perez de Vega, under whose spell the downtrodden Barbara dares to defy her mother. When Williams lover Casper weighs in in his subtle way the fate of the Colletts and their garden are finally and unexpectedly sealed.
- Taking the Devil's Advice (1990) ISBN 0-670-83191-3
A philosopher spends his summer with his children, his ex-wife and his ex-gardener (his ex-wife's new husband) to write his autobiography. His notes are interspersed with his wife's side of the story, and though philosophy was always easier for Oliver than real life, real life is about to come crashing down around him.
- Telling Liddy (1998) ISBN 0-593-04235-2
- All Bones and Lies (2001) ISBN 0-593-04725-7
- Raking the AshesRaking the AshesRaking the Ashes is a 2005 novel by Anne Fine. It is narrated in the first person by Tilly.Tilly has always been adept at knowing and getting what she wants out of life...
(2005) ISBN 0-593-05412-1 - Our Precious Lulu (2009) ISBN 0-593-06361-9
Short stories
- 2009 "Walk on Water, Walk on Air" (Sunday Times, Jan 18th, online text)
Prizes and awards
- 1984 Guardian Children's Fiction Prize (shortlist) - The Granny Project
- 1987 Guardian Children's Fiction Prize (shortlist) - Madame Doubtfire
- 1987 Whitbread Children's Book Award (shortlist) - Madame Doubtfire
- 1990 Carnegie MedalCarnegie MedalThe Carnegie Medal is a literary award established in 1936 in honour of Scottish philanthropist Andrew Carnegie and given annually to an outstanding book for children and young adults. It is awarded by the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals...
- Goggle-Eyes - 1990 Guardian Children's Fiction Prize - Goggle-Eyes
- 1990 Nestlé Smarties Book PrizeNestlé Smarties Book PrizeThe Nestlé Children's Book Prize, also known as the Nestlé Smarties Book Prize, was an annual award given to children's books written in the previous year by a UK citizen or resident. The prize was administered by Booktrust, an independent charity which promotes books and reading, and sponsored by...
(Gold Award)(6–8 years category) - Bill's New Frock - 1990 Publishing News - Children's Author of the Year Award
- 1991 British Book AwardsBritish Book AwardsThe Galaxy National Book Awards are a series of British literary awards focused on the best UK writers and their works, as selected by an academy of members from the British book publishing industry...
- Children's Author of the Year - 1992 Carnegie Medal - Flour Babies
- 1993 Carnegie Medal (shortlist) - The Angel of Nitshill Road
- 1993 Publishing News - Children's Author of the Year Award
- 1993 Whitbread Children's Book Award - Flour Babies
- 1994 British Book Awards - Children's Author of the Year
- 1996 Whitbread Children's Book Award - The Tulip Touch
- 1998 Prix SorcièresPrix SorcièresThe Prix Sorcières is an annual literary prize awarded in France since 1986 to works of children's literature in a number of categories.The prizewinners are decided jointly by the ALSJ and the ABF .Qualifying works must be written in French or translated into French from the original...
- Diary of a Killer Cat ( Journal d'un chat assassin) - 2001 Children's LaureateChildren's LaureateChildren's Laureate is a position awarded in the UK once every two years to a distinguished writer or illustrator of children's books. A biannual bursary of £10,000 is offered...
- 2002 Carnegie Medal (shortlist) - Up On Cloud Nine
- 2003 OBEOrder of the British EmpireThe Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
- 2004 Red House Children's Book AwardRed House Children's Book AwardThe Red House Children's Book Award is a series of literary prizes for works of children's literature published during the previous year. The prize was known as the Children's Book Award from its inauguration in 1981...
(shortlist Younger Readers category) - ffasrerrThe More The Merrier
External links
- Anne Fine's website
- Transcript of interview with Ramona KovalRamona KovalRamona Koval is an Australian broadcaster, writer and journalist.Her parents were Yiddish-speaking survivors of the Holocaust who arrived in Melbourne from Poland in 1950....
, The Book Show, ABC Radio National, 8 September 2008 - The Children's Laureate
- My Home Library scheme, launched by Fine
- BBC Radio 4 interview about Raking the AshesRaking the AshesRaking the Ashes is a 2005 novel by Anne Fine. It is narrated in the first person by Tilly.Tilly has always been adept at knowing and getting what she wants out of life...
on 18 April 2005. - BBC Radio 4 Woman's Hour interview about Raking the AshesRaking the AshesRaking the Ashes is a 2005 novel by Anne Fine. It is narrated in the first person by Tilly.Tilly has always been adept at knowing and getting what she wants out of life...
on 11 April 2005. - Interview with Anne Fine (Veronika Asks)