(born 1924). Although he has written many books during his long career as a children's author, Lloyd Alexander is probably best known for his Prydain novels. This five-book series follows a young hero named Taran from the lowly status of assistant pig keeper to the throne of the kingdom of Prydain. The American Library Association honored the final book of the series, The High King (published 1968), with its Newbery Medal in 1969.

Early life

Lloyd Chudley Alexander was born on January 30, 1924, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. As a child, he enjoyed fairy tales and mythology. After high school, Alexander became a bank messenger and wrote in his free time. He briefly took writing classes at a local college before joining the U.S. Army in 1943 in search of experiences that would make him a better writer. After World War II ended in 1945, he attended the University of Paris.

Career

After returning to the United States, Alexander worked hard on his writing. His first published works were a novel for adults and several books about his own experiences. His first fantasy for children was Time Cat: The Remarkable Journeys of Jason and Gareth (1963). He began the Prydain fantasies the following year with The Book of Three. The series also includes The Black Cauldron (1965), The Castle of Llyr (1966), and Taran Wanderer (1967). The Prydain books provided the source material for the animated Disney feature film The Black Cauldron (1985).

Alexander created the kingdom of Westmark as the setting for another series of novels: Westmark (1981), The Kestrel (1982), and The Beggar Queen (1984). A third series puts the spotlight on a 19th-century orphan girl named Vesper Holly. She and her guardian go on lively journeys through distant lands and help right injustices. The series began with The Illyrian Adventure (1986) and continued through several installments.

Alexander has received many honors, including the National Book Award in 1971 for The Marvelous Misadventures of Sebastian (1970). In the 21st century, Alexander continued to make a name for himself as a great writer of humorous fantasy with How the Cat Swallowed Thunder (2000) and The Gawgon and the Boy (2001).