William Horwood (novelist)
Encyclopedia
William Horwood is an English novelist. He grew up on the East Kent coast, primarily in Deal
, within a model modern family—fractious with "parental separation, secret illegitimacy, alcoholism and genteel poverty".
Between the ages of six and ten, he was raised in foster care, attended school in Germany for a year, then went on to Grammar School at age eleven. In his eighteenth year, he attended Bristol University to study Geography, after which he had any number of jobs—fundraising and teaching, among others, as well as editing for the London Daily Mail.
In 1978, at age 34, he retired from the newspaper in order to pursue novel writing as his primary career, inspired by some long-ago reading of Frances Hodgson Burnett
's The Secret Garden
.
His first novel, Duncton Wood
, an allegorical tale about a community of mole
s, was published in 1980. It was followed by two sequels, forming The Duncton Chronicles, and also a second trilogy, The Book of Silence. William Horwood has also written two stand-alone novels intertwining the lives of humans and of eagles (The Stonor Eagles and Callanish), and The Wolves of Time duology. Skallagrigg
, his 1987 novel about disability, love, and trust, was made into a BBC film in 1994. In addition, he has written a number of sequels to The Wind in the Willows
by Kenneth Grahame
.
Boy with No Shoes, published in August 2004, is a fictionalised memoir that explores challenging themes of childhood in Kent
.
In 2007, he collaborated with historian Helen Rappaport
to produce Dark Hearts of Chicago, a historical mystery and thriller set in nineteenth century Chicago. It was republished in 2008 as City of Dark Hearts with some significant revisions and cuts under the pen name James Conan.
After almost fifteen years, Horwood returned to his hallmark genre of fantasy, publishing the first novel in his Hyddenworld quartet in 2010. Each novel is named after a season—the first is Hyddenworld: Spring, the next meant to be published is Hyddenworld: Summer and so on—and deals with the adventures of a cast of humans and 'hydden' ('little folk,' with some distinct fae overtones) on a quest to find gems holding the powers of the season for which each is named. "If they can be brought together they may combine to re-kindle the fires of a dying universe."
Deal, Kent
Deal is a town in Kent England. It lies on the English Channel eight miles north-east of Dover and eight miles south of Ramsgate. It is a former fishing, mining and garrison town...
, within a model modern family—fractious with "parental separation, secret illegitimacy, alcoholism and genteel poverty".
Between the ages of six and ten, he was raised in foster care, attended school in Germany for a year, then went on to Grammar School at age eleven. In his eighteenth year, he attended Bristol University to study Geography, after which he had any number of jobs—fundraising and teaching, among others, as well as editing for the London Daily Mail.
In 1978, at age 34, he retired from the newspaper in order to pursue novel writing as his primary career, inspired by some long-ago reading of Frances Hodgson Burnett
Frances Hodgson Burnett
Frances Eliza Hodgson Burnett was an English playwright and author. She is best known for her children's stories, in particular The Secret Garden , A Little Princess, and Little Lord Fauntleroy.Born Frances Eliza Hodgson, she lived in Cheetham Hill, Manchester...
's The Secret Garden
The Secret Garden
The Secret Garden is a novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett. It was initially published in serial format starting in the autumn of 1910, and was first published in its entirety in 1911. It is now one of Burnett's most popular novels, and is considered to be a classic of English children's...
.
His first novel, Duncton Wood
Duncton Wood
Duncton Wood is the title of the first novel by author William Horwood, as well as a six-volume fantasy series to which it was later extended.- Overview :...
, an allegorical tale about a community of mole
Mole (animal)
Moles are small cylindrical mammals adapted to a subterranean lifestyle. They have velvety fur; tiny or invisible ears and eyes; and short, powerful limbs with large paws oriented for digging. The term is especially and most properly used for the true moles, those of the Talpidae family in the...
s, was published in 1980. It was followed by two sequels, forming The Duncton Chronicles, and also a second trilogy, The Book of Silence. William Horwood has also written two stand-alone novels intertwining the lives of humans and of eagles (The Stonor Eagles and Callanish), and The Wolves of Time duology. Skallagrigg
Skallagrigg
Skallagrigg is a 1987 novel written by William Horwood and influenced by Horwood's relationship with his own daughter Rachel, who has cerebral palsy.-Plot introduction:...
, his 1987 novel about disability, love, and trust, was made into a BBC film in 1994. In addition, he has written a number of sequels to The Wind in the Willows
The Wind in the Willows
The Wind in the Willows is a classic of children's literature by Kenneth Grahame, first published in 1908. Alternately slow moving and fast paced, it focuses on four anthropomorphised animal characters in a pastoral version of England...
by Kenneth Grahame
Kenneth Grahame
Kenneth Grahame was a Scottish writer, most famous for The Wind in the Willows , one of the classics of children's literature. He also wrote The Reluctant Dragon; both books were later adapted into Disney films....
.
Boy with No Shoes, published in August 2004, is a fictionalised memoir that explores challenging themes of childhood in Kent
Kent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
.
In 2007, he collaborated with historian Helen Rappaport
Helen Rappaport
Helen Rappaport is a British historian, author, and former actress. As a historian, she specialises in the Victorian era and revolutionary Russia.-Biography:...
to produce Dark Hearts of Chicago, a historical mystery and thriller set in nineteenth century Chicago. It was republished in 2008 as City of Dark Hearts with some significant revisions and cuts under the pen name James Conan.
After almost fifteen years, Horwood returned to his hallmark genre of fantasy, publishing the first novel in his Hyddenworld quartet in 2010. Each novel is named after a season—the first is Hyddenworld: Spring, the next meant to be published is Hyddenworld: Summer and so on—and deals with the adventures of a cast of humans and 'hydden' ('little folk,' with some distinct fae overtones) on a quest to find gems holding the powers of the season for which each is named. "If they can be brought together they may combine to re-kindle the fires of a dying universe."
The Duncton Chronicles
- Duncton WoodDuncton WoodDuncton Wood is the title of the first novel by author William Horwood, as well as a six-volume fantasy series to which it was later extended.- Overview :...
(1980) - Duncton Quest (1988)
- Duncton Found (1989)
The Book of Silence
- Duncton Tales (1991)
- Duncton Rising (1993)
- Duncton Stone (1993)
The Wolves of Time
- Journeys to the Heartland (Hardcover 1995, Paperback 1996)
- Seekers at the Wulfrock (Hardcover 1997, Paperback 1998)
Tales of the Willows
- The Willows in Winter (Hardcover 1993)
- Toad Triumphant (Hardcover 1995)
- The Willows and Beyond (Hardcover 1996)
- The Willows at Christmas (Hardcover 1999)
Hyddenworld
- Hyddenworld: Spring (Spring 2010)
- Hyddenworld: Summer (2011)
- Hydenworld: Autumn (2012)
- Hyddenworld: Winter (2013)
Standalone Novels
- The Stonor Eagles (Hardcover 1982, Paperback 1983)
- Callanish (Hardcover 1984, Paperback 1985)
- SkallagriggSkallagriggSkallagrigg is a 1987 novel written by William Horwood and influenced by Horwood's relationship with his own daughter Rachel, who has cerebral palsy.-Plot introduction:...
(Hardcover 1987, Paperback 1988) - The Boy With No Shoes (Hardcover 2004, Paperback 2005)
- Dark Hearts of Chicago (2007) with Helen RappaportHelen RappaportHelen Rappaport is a British historian, author, and former actress. As a historian, she specialises in the Victorian era and revolutionary Russia.-Biography:...