Philip Pullman - Children's Author

Philip Pullman was born in Norwich on 19th October 1946. The early part of his life was spent travelling all over the world, because his father and then his stepfather were both in the Royal Air Force. He spent part of his childhood in Australia, where he first met the wonders of comics, and grew to love Superman and Batman in particular.

From the age of 11, he lived in North Wales, having moved back to Britain.  After he left school he went to Exeter College, Oxford, to read English. He did a number of odd jobs for a while, and then moved back to Oxford to become a teacher. He taught at various middle schools for twelve years, and then moved to Westminster College, Oxford, to be a part-time lecturer.

His first published novel was for adults, but he began writing for children when he was a teacher. Some of his novels were based on plays he wrote for his school pupils, such as The Ruby In The Smoke.

His most well-known work is the trilogy His Dark Materials, beginning with Northern Lights (The Golden Compass in the USA) in 1995, continuing with The Subtle Knife in 1997, and concluding with The Amber Spyglass in 2000. These books have been honoured by several prizes, including the Carnegie Medal, the Guardian Children's Book Award, and (for The Amber Spyglass) the Whitbread Book of the Year Award - the first time in the history of that prize that it was given to a children's book.

Northern Lights won the Carnegie Medal in 1996, and ten years later it was awarded the Carnegie of Carnegies, chosen by readers from all the books that have won this medal in the 70 years since it was first awarded. In 2001 The Amber Spyglass became the first children’s book to win the overall Whitbread Award (now known as the Costa Award).

In 2002 he won the Eleanor Farjeon Award for children's literature and in 2005 jointly won the Astrid Lindgren Award with the Japanese illustrator Ryoji Arai. This is a wonderful international honour given by the Swedish government to writers, or illustrators, or others connected with bringing books to children.

Philip still lives in Oxford, and he writes in a shed at the bottom of his garden.

 

 

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Featured Books, with extracts by Philip Pullman

His Dark Materials
Philip Pullman
The three volumes of this award-winning trilogy are beautifully presented in this mighty single volume.   Set in two parallel universes, the story of Lyra, a young orphan and her demon Pantalaimon begins in Oxford. Swept up in a dangerous plot...
Featured in: 11+ readers | 14+ readers | Books for Boys
Format: Paperback - Released: 04/10/2012
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Aladdin and the Enchanted Lamp
Philip Pullman
5+ readers. Award-winning Philip Pullman has long treasured this feisty and magical story from The Arabian Nights. When the young Aladdin rubs a dirty old lamp a genie appears and offers the boy three wishes. Riches? Happiness? Excitement? Three wishes...
Featured in: 5+ readers
Format: Hardback - Released: 03/10/2011
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The Adventures of the New Cut Gang
Philip Pullman
Award-winning storyteller Philip Pullman’s gripping historical adventure stories for younger readers about the New Cut Gang are attractively published in this handsome hardback. Set in the streets of London in 1894 the two stories, 'Thunderbolt’s Waxwork' and 'The Glass-Fitter’s Ball',...
Featured in: 11+ readers | 9+ readers
Format: Hardback - Released: 01/09/2011
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Four Tales
Philip Pullman
Four Tales brings together Clockwork, The Firework-Maker's Daughter, I was a Rat and The Scarecrow and His Servant; four stories that showcase Philip Pullman's unique imaginative talent. Drawing on the rich tradition of fairytales, the collection will amuse, engage, thrill...
Featured in: 9+ readers
Format: Hardback - Released: 28/10/2010
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Once Upon A Time In The North
Philip Pullman
A wonderful tale from a master storyteller, giving us, just as Lyra’s Oxford did, more extraordinary insight into the world of Pullman’s ‘Dark Materials’. This one tells the story of the very first meeting in the far frozen Arctic...
Featured in: 11+ readers
Format: Hardback - Released: 03/04/2008
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Once Upon A Time In The North CD
Philip Pullman
This is the CD audio version of the wonderful tale from the master storyteller, giving us, just as Lyra’s Oxford did, more extraordinary insight into the world of Pullman’s ‘Dark Materials’. This one tells the story of the very...
Featured in: 11+ readers
Format: Cd-audio - Released: 03/04/2008
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Count Karlstein
Philip Pullman
This stunning spoof melodrama relates the dramatic and scary tale of how the evil Count Karlstein strikes a bargain with the Demon Huntsman. The price of the bargain? His nieces, Lucy and Charlotte, who look as if they will be...
Featured in: 7+ readers | 9+ readers | Reluctant Readers
Format: Paperback - Released: 01/11/2007
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Lyra's Oxford
Philip Pullman
This is a beguiling new episode from the universe of Philip Pullman's Dark Material trilogy, a story which opens in Oxford some two years after the conclusion of The Amber Spyglass. It's gripping and funny and is Pullman at his...
Featured in: 9+ readers
Format: Paperback - Released: 01/11/2007
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Northern Lights - Filmed As The Golden Compass
Philip Pullman
The film tie-in version. Part one of Philip Pullman’s magnificent trilogy. His ‘Dark Materials’, is the story of Lyra, a young girl with an exceptional destiny. Brought up in Jordan College, Oxford Lyra uncovers a secret about her mysterious guardian...
Featured in: 11+ readers | 9+ readers
Format: Paperback - Released: 06/08/2007
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Amber Spyglass
Philip Pullman
Film tie-in version. The third in Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials trilogy. His ‘Dark Materials’, is the story of Lyra, a young girl with an exceptional destiny. Brought up in Jordan College, Oxford Lyra uncovers a secret about...
Featured in: 11+ readers | 9+ readers
Format: Paperback - Released: 06/08/2007
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The Subtle Knife
Philip Pullman
Film tie-in version. The second in Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials trilogy. His ‘Dark Materials’, is the story of Lyra, a young girl with an exceptional destiny. Brought up in Jordan College, Oxford Lyra uncovers a secret about...
Featured in: 11+ readers | 9+ readers
Format: Paperback - Released: 06/08/2007
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Aladdin and the Enchanted Lamp
Philip Pullman
5-7 years. Sophy Williams’s painterly illustrations evoke a mysterious eastern past in rich tones of purple and emerald as an engrossing background to Philip Pullman’s equally full-blooded retelling. This is Pullman relishing storytelling. Lots of jokes pay tribute to Aladdin’s...
Featured in: 5+ readers
Format: Paperback - Released: 21/11/2005
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I Was A Rat!
Philip Pullman
Acclaimed author Philip Pullman turns his hand to a stunning and original story for younger readers. Who is Roger? He says he was a rat - and some of the time he behaves like a rat. But, he is also...
Featured in: 7+ readers | Reluctant Readers
Format: Paperback - Released: 04/11/2004
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The Firework-maker's Daughter
Philip Pullman
Full of hilarious and likeable characters, this is a book that will be read over and over again.  It’s one of those rare books with a confident magic and quality all of its own. Children will find Lila wonderfully inspirational...
Featured in: 7+ readers | Bookshelf Essentials
Format: Paperback - Released: 04/11/2004
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Northern Lights
Philip Pullman
Winner of the Carnegie of Carnegies in 2007 and Carnegie winner in 1995. Part one of Philip Pullman’s magnificent trilogy. His ‘Dark Materials’, is the story of Lyra, a young girl with an exceptional destiny. Brought up in...
Featured in: 11+ readers | 9+ readers | Book Awards
Format: Paperback - Released: 16/10/1998
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