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Born in Malawi in 1960 to a Belgian mother and a father who ran the tiny 'NYASALAND TIMES', Michelle Paver moved to the UK when she was three. She was brought up in Wimbledon and, following a Biochemistry Degree from Oxford, she became a partner in a big City law firm. She gave up the City to follow her long-held dream of becoming a writer. She is the author of the brilliantly successful children's series, THE CHRONICLES OF ANCIENT DARKNESS, the final book of which won the 2010 Guardian Children’s Fiction Prize.
An Interview with Michelle Paver
What’s the first book you remember reading?
The first book I remember looking at was a big illustrated book about Stone Age people, although at the time I was too young to read the captions. Two of the first books I actually read were Finn Family Moomintroll by Tove Jansson, and a terrifically exciting adventure about a horse, called The Sagebrush Sorrel. I’ve still got all three books.
What’s the greatest influence on your writing?
Concerning literary influences, I’d name two principal ones: J.R.R. Tolkien, who inspired a lifelong love of myth and Anglo-Saxon and Norse literature, and who also deepened my appreciation for trees and forests; and Anthony Trollope, whose page-turning novels taught me much about storytelling.
Concerning non-literary influences, I’d have to name my parents, who ensured that I grew up surrounded by books (despite not having much money at the time), and who always encouraged me to follow my interests and take risks, while somehow managing to instill a bit of commonsense about how far to go!
Typewriter, Word Processor, or pen?
I scribble the first version of each chapter on a pad with a rollerball pen, but it’s such a scrawl that I can only read it while it’s still fresh in my mind, so I try to type it onto the wordprocessor on the same day. Then I go over it a few times on the computer before moving on to the next chapter, and so on.
Name your favourite literary hero and villain
They change from time to time, but here are the ones that have lasted. For heroes, it’s Aragorn from The Lord of the Rings and Hector from The Iliad. For villains, it’s Dracula (the Bram Stoker one, of course), and Stavrogin from The Devils.
Where were you born and raised?
I was born in Nyasaland (now Malawi), but came to England when I was small, and lived in Essex till I was eight, when we moved to Wimbledon. Apart from a couple of years in central London, I’ve lived there ever since.
Did you enjoy school? What is your most vivid memory of your school years?
In the main I did, but my most vivid memory concerns my one bad year. When I was about eleven, a new girl joined the class and took such a dislike to me that she got everyone else to gang up against me. It doesn’t sound too bad, but it was miserable and very lonely to go through. My mother told me to ignore the lot of them, which I did – and after a pretty rough year, the ringleader left, and things drifted back to normal. But I’ve never forgotten it. And it probably helped make me a writer, because for that year, I retreated into my imagination.
What were the first pieces of writing that you produced?
I wrote my first stories on my mother’s typewriter when I was five. I’ve still got some of them. One was about a rabbit called Hamish and a Tyrannosaurus Rex. Another, Ebany the Mouse Goddess, concerned a tribe of mice who burrowed to safety beneath an oncoming glacier. At school I wrote several plays, including one about the murder of Tutankhamun, and another about a family of cavemen.
What jobs did you have before you started writing?
I worked as a solicitor in the City for thirteen years: lots of all-nighters and weekends in the office. The challenge made it fun for a while, but that soon palled. I don’t miss it at all.
If your house was burning down what would you save?
Nothing. I’d just try to get out alive. (And lest anyone think me callous, I should add that I don’t have any pets!)
Click here to read more about Michelle Paver and The Chronicles of Ancient Darkness:
And you can keep in touch with Michelle through Michelle LIVE! – her monthly show on YouTube. You can send her a question in advance, or post a comment on Twitter, YouTube or Instagram live during the show itself!
April 2020 Book of the Month | Book 7 Chronicles of Ancient Darkness This seventh book in Michelle Paver’s awe-inspiring Chronicles of Ancient Darkness series that began with Wolf Brother is a triumph of storytelling that myth-loving readers will wolf down (pun entirely intended). The sense of adventure and human spirit is exhilarating, and Paver’s passion for nature, for wildlife, for the world’s wondrous wilds is an immersive joy. Torak and Renn have been in the Forest with their Wolf Brother for two summers when Renn leaves him without word. Though realising that “she would have had to deceive Torak for days into order to prepare for her journey”, accomplished tracker Torak does what he must, and what he does best: he and Wolf embark on a quest to the Edge of the World beyond the Far North to find their friend. Alongside dealing with the ominous threat of ice bears and the “beyond good and evil” Sea Mother, Torak is desperate to discover what drove Renn to this place. The sense of demonic danger is powerfully palpable, the writing rich, yet exquisitely sparse and smoothly readable, and the entirety of this enthralling adventure is laced with an uplifting sense of camaraderie, love and legend.
Hylas and Pirra have found their way to the mysterious land of Egypt in pursuit of the dagger of Koronos, only to find that the Crows have got there first. Led by Hylas's deadly enemy, Telamon, they are determined to recover the legendary blade, by any means necessary. But the dagger now lies buried beyond the reach of mortals. If Hylas and Pirra want it back, they will have to make the most dangerous journey of all - into the realms of death itself...
One of THE top children's books of the last decade is none other than WOLF BROTHER, which is the first in a brilliant series called The Chronicles of Ancient Darkness. Perfect for a new generation of children to enjoy this edition is a gorgeous 10th anniversary edition which is not to be missed. Rich in detail which brings the past to life and makes the forest background vivid to all readers, Wolf Brother tells how orphaned Torak must set out on a terrible mission. Tricked, trapped and betrayed at almost every turn, it’s a lonely quest but Torak finds comfort in the support of a wolf cub. Relying on their quick wits, the two journey through danger until Torak must make the final sacrifice.
August 2014 Book of the Month | The third adventure for Hylas, now landed on the plague ridden island of Keftiu which is also gripped by the coldest winter ever known and covered in ash from the eruption of the enormous volcano. Hylas’s reception is far from welcoming and his hope of finding his companion Pirra and the lion cub Havoc looks hopeless. While Hylas fears the worst about his former companions, Havoc is also searching for the human company he so badly needs. Michelle Paver brings the devastated world of the past vividly to life and is especially good at seeing events from an animal’s point of view.
February 2014 Book of the Month Best-selling Michelle Paver, creator of the Wolf Brother series, continues her equally richly created and atmospheric Gods and Warriors series set in the sun-baked Greek countryside. Although separated by a wide social gulf, Hylas the Outsider and Pirra the daughter of the High Priestess have become friends. Now Hylas, imprisoned by slavers, is working in the mines. He has to escape before his vicious enemies the Crows find out where he is. Pirra has always promised she would help Hylas escape but can she reach him? And can the two of them survive especially if the gods are against them? Despite danger at every turn Hylas and Pirra together with an orphaned lion cub continue to pursue their destiny. In addition to our Lovereading expert opinion for the first book in the series, The Outsiders, a small number of children were lucky enough to be invited to review this title. Here's a taster....'This gripping historical adventure story would suit all adventure lovers with an interest in mythology. I loved it and found it similar to the Percy Jackson books.' Scroll down to read more reviews...
August 2013 Book of the Month Best-selling Michelle Paver, creator of the Wolf Brother series, continues her equally richly created and atmospheric Gods and Warriors series set in the sun-baked Greek countryside. Although separated by a wide social gulf, Hylas the Outsider and Pirra the daughter of the High Priestess have become friends. Now Hylas, imprisoned by slavers, is working in the mines. He has to escape before his vicious enemies the Crows find out where he is. Pirra has always promised she would help Hylas escape but can she reach him? And can the two of them survive especially if the gods are against them? Despite danger at every turn Hylas and Pirra together with an orphaned lion cub continue to pursue their destiny. Click here to download an extract of the first book in this thrilling series - Gods and Warriors, The Outsiders. In addition to our Lovereading expert opinion for the first book in the series, The Outsiders, a small number of children were lucky enough to be invited to review this title. Here's a taster....'This gripping historical adventure story would suit all adventure lovers with an interest in mythology. I loved it and found it similar to the Percy Jackson books.' Scroll down to read more reviews...
One of our Books of the Year 2013 - August 2013 Book of the Month - Shortlisted for the 2013 Leeds Book Award By the best-selling author of Wolf Brother, Gods and Warriors is this year's most hotly anticipated children's novel. The first book in a breathtaking adventure series set in the Greek Bronze Age: a time when the lowliest goatherd could rise to become a hero. Click here to download a letter from Michelle Paver to her readers, which tells more about the time the book is set and how she used her research to bring the Gods and Warriors series to life.
Shortlisted for the 2013 Leeds Book Award - September 2012 MEGA Book of the Month. By the best-selling author of Wolf Brother, Gods and Warriors is this year's most hotly anticipated children's novel. The first book in a breathtaking adventure series set in the Greek Bronze Age: a time when the lowliest goatherd could rise to become a hero.
Dazzling entertainment and seamless storytelling from the winner of the Guardian Book of the Year Award 2010 with Ghost Hunter, the final title in the quite superb Chronicles of Ancient Darkness series. To celebrate the culmination of the series the complete six adventures in Torak's quest to vanquish the terrifying Soul-Eaters: WOLF BROTHER, SPIRIT WALKER, SOUL EATER, OUTCAST, OATH BREAKER and GHOST HUNTER in a superb, limited edition, boxed set.Our very own Julia Eccleshare was chair of the judges for the Guardian Book Award and said, “Whatever the individual judges thought about fantasy before they began Ghost Hunter – and some admitted to hating it! – they were immediately captivated by Michelle’s brilliantly created world, her wonderfully dramatic story and her powerful story telling. They loved the way she described the world she has been fashioning throughout the series saying, “The language is inventive and rich. Sharp and poetic but also child friendly”. They also adored her characters describing Wolf as “endearing” and the people as “real”. Finally, one summed Ghost Hunter up in terms of awe: “The construct of the world is amazing. I am jealous and impressed!”
Winner of the Guardian Children’s Fiction Prize 2010 | Dazzling entertainment, seamless storytelling, this is the stunning 6th and final episode, bringing the bestselling ‘The Chronicles of Ancient Darkness’, which began so dramatically with Wolf Brother, to a close. Now it is Torak’s last adventure; he must travel up into the mountains and find the Mountain of Ghosts to vanquish the terrifying Soul-Eaters. Along with Wolf and Renn, Torak faces chilling danger on their journey as they fulfil their destiny. Held in an icy grip, the richly imagined world of spirits and packs provides a dramatic background for Torak’s exceptional skills at survival, as well and for the desperate choices he and Renn have to make. Their final decisions will satisfy all. To view all the titles in this series, which for edge-of-the-seat action, adventure and mystery there is no equal, click here.
Winner of the Guardian Children’s Fiction Prize 2010. This is the final book in the best-selling CHRONICLES OF ANCIENT DARKNESS. Dazzling entertainment, seamless storytelling, this is the stunning 6th and final episode, bringing the bestselling ‘The Chronicles of Ancient Darkness’, which began so dramatically with Wolf Brother, to a close. Now it is Torak’s last adventure; he must travel up into the mountains and find the Mountain of Ghosts to vanquish the terrifying Soul-Eaters. Along with Wolf and Renn, Torak faces chilling danger on their journey as they fulfil their destiny. Held in an icy grip, the richly imagined world of spirits and packs provides a dramatic background for Torak’s exceptional skills at survival, as well and for the desperate choices he and Renn have to make. Their final decisions will satisfy all. To view all the titles in this series, which for edge-of-the-seat action, adventure and mystery there is no equal, click here. Titles in the Chronicles of Ancient Darkness series: 1. Wolf Brother 2. Spirit Walker 3. Soul-eater 4. Outcast 5. Oathbreaker 6. Ghost Hunter
CD Audio of Ghost Hunter. Winner of the Guardian Children’s Fiction Prize 2010. This is the final book in the best-selling CHRONICLES OF ANCIENT DARKNESS.
This is the series that began with Wolf Brother and now continues with the story of Torak alongside his trusted and loyal Wolf. Once an outcast, Torak has been happy with his life among the Seal Clan and especially in his friendship with Bale. But, when Bale is savagely killed, Torak blames himself and sets out on a desperate journey intent on revenge. Returning to his familiar forest, Torak finds the clans at odds with one another and danger lurks everywhere. It takes all Torak’s courage to continue his mission and to keep his promises.
Welcome to best-selling author Michelle Paver’s latest in the Chronicles of Ancient Darkness.This is the series that began with Wolf Brother and now continues with the story of Torak alongside his trusted and loyal Wolf. Once an outcast, Torak has been happy with his life among the Seal Clan and especially in his friendship with Bale. But, when Bale is savagely killed, Torak blames himself and sets out on a desperate journey intent on revenge. Returning to his familiar forest, Torak finds the clans at odds with one another and danger lurks everywhere. It takes all Torak’s courage to continue his mission and to keep his promises. The Lovereading Comment: Torak’s battle against the soul eaters continues in this, the 5th novel from the exceptional Chronicles of Ancient Darkness. Each and every page will have the reader on a knife edge of life and death, fear and terror alongside the brave and determined Torak as he seeks revenge for the death of one of his closest friends. Authenticity and sharp attention to detail are the hallmarks of Paver’s writing and this is achieved through her incredibly detailed research, which for this book involved a trip to eastern Poland where she gained inspiration for various parts of the deep forest as well as for some of the unusual animals you’ll meet in the novel. If you’ve not been introduced to this series yet then we do urge you to dip in for it has everything a reader could wish for whether they’re 9 or 109. Titles in the Chronicles of Ancient Darkness series: 1. Wolf Brother 2. Spirit Walker 3. Soul-eater 4. Outcast 5. Oathbreaker 6. Ghost Hunter
CD Audio of Oath Breaker.
Book 4 Chronicles of Ancient Darkness | This series just gets better and better with each new title. Outcast is the fourth in the series and here Torak has to pit his wits against everyone - particularly his former friends and now foe as a consequence of his mark of the soul eater. It's a gripping adventure story that's so full of superb description of time and place that you feel utterly transported into Torak's world and that of his pack-brother Wolf. Can Torak triumph over evil and gain the trust once again of his friends?
This series just gets better and better with each new title. Outcast is the fourth in the series - I believe there will be six in total - and here Torak has to pit his wits against everyone - particularly his former friends and now foe as a consequence of his mark of the soul eater. It's a gripping adventure story that's so full of superb description of time and place that you feel utterly transported into Torak's world and that of his pack-brother Wolf. Can Torak triumph over evil and gain the trust once again of his friends? Titles in the Chronicles of Ancient Darkness series: 1. Wolf Brother 2. Spirit Walker 3. Soul-eater 4. Outcast 5. Oathbreaker 6. Ghost Hunter This is also availble as an audio CD. Click here for more information
Book 3 Chronicles of Ancient Darkness | Authenticity and sharp attention to detail are the hallmarks of Paver’s writing. Research for Soul Eater took her to the snowy foothills of the Carpathian Mountains in Transylvanis, to Finland, to Greenland and to Northern Canada, where she spent time learning the traditional skills of the Inuit people and, in Churchill, came face-to-face with wild polar bears. Paver says, ‘Luckily I was downwind, a made a hasty retreat to the settlement before the bear caught my scent; but I’ll never forget the heart-lurching moment when I spotted that long white neck stretching upwards to sniff the wind.’ Soul Eater is the eagerly awaited third installment in the highly acclaimed Chronicles of Ancient Darkness series which launched Paver onto the international book scene. We rate this series incredibly highly with the belief that children from 9 upwards will love the adventure, the mystery, the fear and the friendships that the author has so cleverly intertwined within the story.
CD Audio of Soul Eater.
Hugh (11) - Once I had picked up the book I could not put it down and I read till long past my bedtime and every morning. I was in Torak’s world all day and in my bed I go over what I have read and guess what will happen next. It is so unpredictable that I was almost always wrong! It was a thrilling read! Titles in the Chronicles of Ancient Darkness series: 1. Wolf Brother 2. Spirit Walker 3. Soul-eater 4. Outcast 5. Oathbreaker 6. Ghost Hunter
Book 2 Chronicles of Ancient Darkness | This is a worthy second novel in the CHRONICLES OF ANCIENT DARKNESS trilogy, the first was Wolf Brother that we praised so highly earlier this year. Non-stop action on every page dovetails beautifully with heart-stopping narrative and sharp attention to detail. When you read about Torak eating fish eyes, remember that the author did too for the sake of realism!
CD Audio of Spirit Walker.
Dazzling entertainment, seamless storytelling - the second adventure in Torak's quest to vanquish the terrifying Soul-Eaters.
Rich in detail which brings the past to life and makes the forest background vivid to all readers, Wolf Brother tells how orphaned Torak must set out on a terrible mission. Tricked, trapped and betrayed at almost every turn, it’s a lonely quest but Torak finds comfort in the support of a wolf cub. Relying on their quick wits, the two journey through danger until Torak must make the final sacrifice. Titles in the Chronicles of Ancient Darkness series: 1. Wolf Brother 2. Spirit Walker 3. Soul-eater 4. Outcast 5. Oathbreaker 6. Ghost Hunter
CD Audio of Wolf Brother.
Rich in detail which brings the past to life and makes the forest background vivid to all readers, Wolf Brother tells how orphaned Torak must set out on a terrible mission. Tricked, trapped and betrayed at almost every turn, it’s a lonely quest but Torak finds comfort in the support of a wolf cub. Relying on their quick wits, the two journey through danger until Torak must make the final sacrifice. Titles in the Chronicles of Ancient Darkness series: 1. Wolf Brother 2. Spirit Walker 3. Soul-eater 4. Outcast 5. Oathbreaker 6. Ghost Hunter
April 2020 Book of the Month | Book 7 Chronicles of Ancient Darkness This seventh book in Michelle Paver’s awe-inspiring Chronicles of Ancient Darkness series that began with Wolf Brother is a triumph of storytelling that myth-loving readers will wolf down (pun entirely intended). The sense of adventure and human spirit is exhilarating, and Paver’s passion for nature, for wildlife, for the world’s wondrous wilds is an immersive joy. Torak and Renn have been in the Forest with their Wolf Brother for two summers when Renn leaves him without word. Though realising that “she would have had to deceive Torak for days into order to prepare for her journey”, accomplished tracker Torak does what he must, and what he does best: he and Wolf embark on a quest to the Edge of the World beyond the Far North to find their friend. Alongside dealing with the ominous threat of ice bears and the “beyond good and evil” Sea Mother, Torak is desperate to discover what drove Renn to this place. The sense of demonic danger is powerfully palpable, the writing rich, yet exquisitely sparse and smoothly readable, and the entirety of this enthralling adventure is laced with an uplifting sense of camaraderie, love and legend.
A Times Best Book of 2019. 'Paver is one of Britain's modern greats. This sinister, gothic chiller shows why' BIG ISSUE, Books of the Year 2019. Something has been let loose... In Edwardian Suffolk, a manor house stands alone in a lost corner of the Fens: a glinting wilderness of water whose whispering reeds guard ancient secrets. Maud is a lonely child growing up without a mother, ruled by her repressive father. When he finds a painted medieval devil in a graveyard, unhallowed forces are awakened. Maud's battle has begun. She must survive a world haunted by witchcraft, the age-old legends of her beloved fen - and the even more nightmarish demons of her father's past. Spanning five centuries, Wakenhyrst is a darkly gothic thriller about murderous obsession and one girl's longing to fly free by the bestselling author of Dark Matter and Thin Air. Wakenhyrst is an outstanding new piece of story-telling, a tale of mystery and imagination laced with terror. It is a masterwork in the modern gothic tradition that ranges from Mary Shelley and Bram Stoker to Neil Gaiman and Sarah Perry.
A Times Best Book of 2019. 'Paver is one of Britain's modern greats. This sinister, gothic chiller shows why' BIG ISSUE, Books of the Year 2019. Something has been let loose... In Edwardian Suffolk, a manor house stands alone in a lost corner of the Fens: a glinting wilderness of water whose whispering reeds guard ancient secrets. Maud is a lonely child growing up without a mother, ruled by her repressive father. When he finds a painted medieval devil in a graveyard, unhallowed forces are awakened. Maud's battle has begun. She must survive a world haunted by witchcraft, the age-old legends of her beloved fen - and the even more nightmarish demons of her father's past. Spanning five centuries, Wakenhyrst is a darkly gothic thriller about murderous obsession and one girl's longing to fly free by the bestselling author of Dark Matter and Thin Air. Wakenhyrst is an outstanding new piece of story-telling, a tale of mystery and imagination laced with terror. It is a masterwork in the modern gothic tradition that ranges from Mary Shelley and Bram Stoker to Neil Gaiman and Sarah Perry.
A Times Best Book of 2019. 'Paver is one of Britain's modern greats. This sinister, gothic chiller shows why' BIG ISSUE, Books of the Year 2019. Something has been let loose... In Edwardian Suffolk, a manor house stands alone in a lost corner of the Fens: a glinting wilderness of water whose whispering reeds guard ancient secrets. Maud is a lonely child growing up without a mother, ruled by her repressive father. When he finds a painted medieval devil in a graveyard, unhallowed forces are awakened. Maud's battle has begun. She must survive a world haunted by witchcraft, the age-old legends of her beloved fen - and the even more nightmarish demons of her father's past. Spanning five centuries, Wakenhyrst is a darkly gothic thriller about murderous obsession and one girl's longing to fly free by the bestselling author of Dark Matter and Thin Air. Wakenhyrst is an outstanding new piece of story-telling, a tale of mystery and imagination laced with terror. It is a masterwork in the modern gothic tradition that ranges from Mary Shelley and Bram Stoker to Neil Gaiman and Sarah Perry.
A Times Best Book of 2019. A Times Audiobook of the Week. Something has been let loose... In Edwardian Suffolk, a manor house stands alone in a lost corner of the Fens: a glinting wilderness of water whose whispering reeds guard ancient secrets. Maud is a lonely child growing up without a mother, ruled by her repressive father. When he finds a painted medieval devil in a graveyard, unhallowed forces are awakened. Maud's battle has begun. She must survive a world haunted by witchcraft, the age-old legends of her beloved fen - and the even more nightmarish demons of her father's past. Spanning five centuries, Wakenhyrst is a darkly gothic thriller about murderous obsession and one girl's longing to fly free by the bestselling author of Dark Matter and Thin Air. Wakenhyrst is an outstanding new piece of story-telling, a tale of mystery and imagination laced with terror. It is a masterwork in the modern gothic tradition that ranges from Mary Shelley and Bram Stoker to Neil Gaiman and Sarah Perry.
A Times Best Book of 2019. A Times Audiobook of the Week. Something has been let loose... In Edwardian Suffolk, a manor house stands alone in a lost corner of the Fens: a glinting wilderness of water whose whispering reeds guard ancient secrets. Maud is a lonely child growing up without a mother, ruled by her repressive father. When he finds a painted medieval devil in a graveyard, unhallowed forces are awakened. Maud's battle has begun. She must survive a world haunted by witchcraft, the age-old legends of her beloved fen - and the even more nightmarish demons of her father's past. Spanning five centuries, Wakenhyrst is a darkly gothic thriller about murderous obsession and one girl's longing to fly free by the bestselling author of Dark Matter and Thin Air. Wakenhyrst is an outstanding new piece of story-telling, a tale of mystery and imagination laced with terror. It is a masterwork in the modern gothic tradition that ranges from Mary Shelley and Bram Stoker to Neil Gaiman and Sarah Perry.
The Himalayas, 1935. Kangchenjunga. The sacred mountain. Biggest killer of them all. Five Englishmen set out to conquer it. But courage can only take them so far. And the higher they climb, the darker it gets.
Chosen for Simon Mayo's Radio 2 Book Club, this is the chilling new ghost story from the bestselling author of Dark Matter. The Himalayas, 1935. Kangchenjunga. Third-highest peak on earth. Greatest killer of them all. Five Englishmen set off from Darjeeling, determined to conquer the sacred summit. But courage can only take them so far - and the mountain is not their only foe. As the wind dies, the dread grows. Mountain sickness. The horrors of extreme altitude. A past that will not stay buried. And sometimes, the truth does not set you free.
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