Mary Norton author page

Mary Norton biography

Mary Norton was an English author best known for her children’s fantasy novels. She was born in London and educated at the convent of the Sacred Heart in Roehampton. Norton began her writing career during the Second World War while working for the War Office.

Her first book, The Magic Bed-Knob; or, How to Become a Witch in Ten Easy Lessons, was published in 1945 by J.M. Dent. This was followed by a sequel, Bonfires and Broomsticks, in 1947. These two stories were later combined into a single volume titled Bed-Knob and Broomstick.

Norton is most widely recognised for her series of novels known as The Borrowers. The first book in the series, The Borrowers, was published in 1952 by J.M. Dent. The story centres on a family of tiny people who live secretly in the houses of humans and “borrow” items to survive. The success of the first book led to four sequels: The Borrowers Afield (1955), The Borrowers Afloat (1959), The Borrowers Aloft (1961), and The Borrowers Avenged (1982).

The Borrowers won the Carnegie Medal in 1952, awarded by the Library Association for an outstanding book for children. Norton’s work has been published by J.M. Dent and later by Puffin Books.

Mary Norton’s final book in the Borrowers series, The Borrowers Avenged, was published in 1982.