Philip Pullman author page

Philip Pullman Biography

Early Life and Family

• Philip Pullman was born in Norwich, England, to Audrey Evelyn Pullman and Royal Air Force pilot Alfred Outram Pullman.
• His formative years were spent in Llanbedr in Ardudwy, Wales, where the family lived due to his father’s RAF job.
• In 1954, at the age of seven, Pullman’s father, an RAF pilot, tragically died in a plane crash in Kenya.

Formative Years and Education

• After the loss of his father, Pullman spent his early years in various locations, including Southern Rhodesia.
• Discovered a love for comic books, including Superman and Batman, during his time in North Wales.
• Attended Taverham Hall School, Eaton House, and Ysgol Ardudwy in Harlech.
• Discovered John Milton’s “Paradise Lost” during his school years, a significant influence on his later work.
• Studied at Exeter College, Oxford, earning a Third-class BA in 1968, with a focus on English literature.

Professional and Personal Life

• Married Judith Speller in 1970 and has two sons.
• Began teaching at Bishop Kirk Middle School in North Oxford, specializing in children aged 9 to 13.
• Published his first work, “The Haunted Storm,” in 1972, followed by the fantasy novel “Galatea” in 1978.
• Shifted from teaching after the publication of “The Ruby in the Smoke” in 1986.

His Dark Materials and Later Works

• Started the “His Dark Materials” trilogy around 1993, with the first book, “Northern Lights,” published in 1995.
• Won the Carnegie Medal and the Guardian Children’s Fiction Prize for “Northern Lights.”
• Continued to write full-time, creating companion pieces to the trilogy like “Lyra’s Oxford” and “Once Upon a Time in the North.”
• Initiated “The Book of Dust,” a trilogy complementing “His Dark Materials,” starting with “La Belle Sauvage” in 2017.

Awards and Recognition

• Awarded a CBE in the New Year’s Honours list in 2004.
• Received the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award in 2005 for contributions to children’s literature.
• Named a Knight Bachelor in the 2019 New Year’s Honours list.

Campaigns and Views

• Advocated against age bands on children’s book covers and supported the Let Books Be Books campaign.
• Expressed strong views on civil liberties, criticizing government encroachment into everyday life.

Literary Works

• “His Dark Materials” trilogy, including “Northern Lights,” “The Subtle Knife,” and “The Amber Spyglass.”
• “The Book of Dust” trilogy, with “La Belle Sauvage” and “The Secret Commonwealth” as initial releases.
• Curated 50 of Grimms’ classic fairytales for Penguin Classics in 2012.

Personal Interests

• A lifelong fan of Norwich City F.C., Pullman penned the foreword to the club’s official history in 2020.

Conclusion

• Philip Pullman’s extensive literary contributions, advocacy efforts, and unique storytelling have left an indelible mark on the world of literature, captivating readers of all ages.