Mary Hoffman author page

Mary Hoffman biography

Mary Hoffman is a British author known for her work in children’s and young adult literature. She studied English at Cambridge University. Hoffman has written over 100 books, including picture books, novels, and non-fiction titles. Her best-known work is the Stravaganza series, which began with Stravaganza: City of Masks in 2002, published by Bloomsbury. The series includes six novels set in a parallel world inspired by Renaissance Italy.

Hoffman’s picture book Amazing Grace, illustrated by Caroline Binch and published by Frances Lincoln in 1991, has sold over a million copies and has been translated into more than twenty languages. The book was shortlisted for the Smarties Prize and the Kate Greenaway Medal. Other notable works include The Falconer’s Knot (2007), Troubadour (2009), and David (2011).

She has also written non-fiction titles such as The Great Big Book of Families (2010) and The Great Big Book of Feelings (2012), both illustrated by Ros Asquith. Hoffman has contributed to anthologies and edited collections, including Lines in the Sand: New Writing on War and Peace (2003).

Mary Hoffman served as a reviewer for publications such as The Guardian and The Times Educational Supplement. She was shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal for City of Masks in 2002. Her work has received recognition from the American Library Association and the International Reading Association. In 2017, Amazing Grace was included in the BBC’s list of 100 most influential children’s books.