Humphrey Carpenter author page

Humphrey Carpenter biography

Humphrey Carpenter was a British author, broadcaster, and biographer known for his works for children and young adults as well as his literary biographies. He wrote several books for younger readers, including the Mr Majeika series, which follows the adventures of a magical schoolteacher. The first book in the series, Mr Majeika, was published in 1984 by Puffin Books. The series became popular in schools and was later adapted for television.

In addition to his children’s books, Carpenter wrote acclaimed biographies of notable literary figures, including J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, and A.A. Milne. His biography J.R.R. Tolkien: A Biography was published in 1977. Carpenter also wrote and presented radio programmes, particularly for the BBC, and contributed to literary criticism and scholarship.

Among his works for children, the Mr Majeika series remains his most recognised contribution, with titles such as Mr Majeika and the School Book Week and Mr Majeika and the Music Teacher published by Puffin. His writing is noted for its humour and imaginative storytelling, appealing to primary school-aged readers.

Humphrey Carpenter’s Mr Majeika was first published by Puffin Books in 1984.