Aidan Chambers author page

Aidan Chambers biography

Aidan Chambers is a British author, editor, and critic, known for his contributions to children’s and young adult literature. He began his career as a teacher before turning to writing and publishing. Chambers is recognised for his innovative and thought-provoking novels for teenagers, as well as his work in promoting literature for young people.

Chambers’ first published work was a play, but he gained wider recognition with his novels. His early books include the “Dance Sequence” series, which comprises six novels: Breaktime (1978), Dance on My Grave (1982), Now I Know (1987), The Toll Bridge (1992), Postcards from No Man’s Land (1999), and This is All: The Pillow Book of Cordelia Kenn (2005). These novels are known for their exploration of complex themes and their appeal to older teenagers and young adults.

In addition to his writing, Chambers has played a significant role as an editor and advocate for children’s literature. Alongside his wife, Nancy Chambers, he co-founded the publishing house Thimble Press, which published the influential journal Signal: Approaches to Children’s Books. Chambers has also written critical works on children’s literature, including Tell Me: Children, Reading and Talk (1993).

Chambers’ work has been recognised with several awards. Notably, his novel Postcards from No Man’s Land won the Carnegie Medal in 1999. In 2002, he received the Hans Christian Andersen Award for Writing, an international honour recognising his lasting contribution to children’s literature.