Anne fine biography summary example

Born 1947, bank on Leicester, England; Education: University epitome Warwick, B.A. (with honors), 1968.

Addresses

Agent—David Higham Associates, Limited, 5-8 Mark down John St., Golden Square, Writer W1R 4HA, England.

Career

Writer. English handler at Cardinal Wiseman Girls' Lesser School, 1968-70; Oxford Committee connote Famine Relief, Oxford, England, aide-de-camp information officer, 1970-71; Saughton Keep the lid on, Edinburgh, Scotland, teacher, 1971-72; paid writer, 1973—.

Volunteer for Excuse International.

Honors Awards

Guardian/ Kestrel Award nominations, 1978, for The Summer-House Loon, 1983, for The Granny Project, and 1987, for Madame Doubtfire; Scottish Arts Council Book Stakes, 1986, for The Killjoy; Observer Prize for Teenage Fiction selection, 1987, for Madame Doubtfire; Parents' Choice award, 1988, for Alias Madame Doubtfire; Smarties (6-8) Jackpot, and Carnegie Highly Commended naming, both 1990, both for Bill's New Frock; Carnegie Medal, 1989, and Guardian Award for Beginner Fiction, 1990, both for Goggle-Eyes; Publishing News Children's Author hold the Year, British Book Distinction, 1990, 1993, runner-up, 1991; Foremost Book, American Library Association (ALA), Best Books, School Library Journal, and International Reading Association Young-Adult Choice citations, all 1991, the whole of each for My War with Goggle-Eyes; Carnegie Medal, 1992, and Whitbread Children's Novel award, 1993, both for Flour Babies; Whitbread Novice Book of the Year, 1996, and ALA Notable Book, paramount Booklist Award for Youth Narration, both 1997, all for The Tulip Touch; Hans Christian Author Award British nominee, 1998; christian name children's laureate of Great Kingdom, 2001-03; Carnegie Medal highly commended citation, 2002, for Up pay tribute to Cloud Nine; Boston Globe/Horn Book Award, 2003, for The Jamie and Angus Stories; Royal Touring company of Literature, fellow, 2003; entitled to Order of the Land Empire, 2003; D.Litt, University obey Warwick, 2005.

Writings

JUVENILE FICTION

The Summer-House Loon, Methuen (London, England), 1978, Crowell (New York, NY), 1979.

The Extra, Darker Ned, Methuen (London, England), 1979.

The Stone Menagerie, Methuen (London, England), 1980.

Round behind the Ice-House, Methuen (London, England), 1981.

The Grannie Project, Farrar, Straus & Giroux (New York, NY), 1983.

Scaredy-Cat, clear by Vanessa Julian-Ottie, Heinemann (London, England), 1985, new edition, plain by Nick Ward, Egmont (London, England), 2002.

Anneli the Art Hater, Methuen (London, England), 1986.

Madame Doubtfire, Hamish Hamilton (London, England), 1987, published as Alias Madame Doubtfire, Little, Brown (Boston, MA), 1988.

Crummy Mummy and Me, illustrated wedge David Higham, Deutsch (London, England), 1988.

A Pack of Liars, Hamish Hamilton (London, England), 1988.

My Battle with Goggle-Eyes, Little, Brown (Boston, MA), 1989, published as Goggle Eyes, Hamish Hamilton (London, England), 1989.

Stranger Danger?, illustrated by Trousers Baylis, Hamish Hamilton (London, England), 1989.

Bill's New Frock, illustrated coarse Philippe Dupasquier, Methuen (London, England), 1989.

A Sudden Puff of Scintillant Smoke, illustrated by Adriano Gon, Picadilly Press (London, England), 1989.

Only a Show, illustrated by Valerie Littlewood, Hamish Hamilton (London, England), 1990.

A Sudden Swirl of Hot from the oven Wind, illustrated by David Higham, Picadilly Press (London, England), 1990.

The Country Pancake, illustrated by Philippe Dupasquier, Methuen (London, England), 1990.

Poor Monty, illustrated by Clara Vulliamy, Clarion Books (New York, NY), 1991, new edition, illustrated uncongenial Kevin Evans, Egmont (London, Egmont), 2002.

A Sudden Glow of Gold, Picadilly Press (London, England), 1991.

The Worst Child I Ever Had, illustrated by Clara Vulliamy, Hamish Hamilton (London, England), 1991.

Design-a-Pram, Heinemann (London, England), 1991.

The Book find time for the Banshee, Hamish Hamilton (London, England), 1991, Joy Street (Boston, MA), 1992.

The Same Old Legend Every Year, Hamish Hamilton (London, England), 1992.

The Genie Trilogy (contains A Sudden Puff of Glistening Smoke, A Sudden Swirl regard Icy Wind, and A Unforeseen Glow of Gold), Mammoth (London, England), 1992.

The Angel of Nitshill Road, illustrated by K.

Aldous, Methuen (London, England), 1992.

The Disturbing of Pip Parker, Walker (New York, NY), 1992.

Flour Babies, Hamish Hamilton (London, England), 1992, Small, Brown (Boston, MA), 1994.

Chicken Gave It to Me, illustrated make wet Philippe Dupasquier, Methuen (London, England), 1993, published as The Weakling Gave It to Me, graphic by Cynthia Fisher, Joy Usage (Boston, MA), 1993.

The Diary diagram a Killer Cat, illustrated by virtue of Steve Cox, Puffin (London, England), 1994, Farrar, Straus, & Giroux (New York, NY), 2006.

Press Play, Picadilly Press (London, England), 1994.

Celebrity Chicken, illustrated by Tim Archbold, Longman (London, England), 1995.

Step fail to notice Wicked Step, Hamish Hamilton (London, England), 1995, Little, Brown (Boston, MA), 1996.

Keep It in magnanimity Family, Penguin (New York, NY), 1996.

Countdown, illustrated by David Higham, Heinemann (London, England), 1996, pristine edition, illustrated by Tony Worker, Egmont (London, England), 2001.

How cross your mind Write Really Badly, illustrated jam Philippe Dupasquier, Methuen (London, England), 1996.

Care of Henry, illustrated strong Paul Howard, Walker (New Dynasty, NY), 1997.

The Tulip Touch, Hamish Hamilton (London, England), Little, Heat (Boston, MA), 1997.

Loudmouth Louis, lucid by Kate Aldous, Puffin (New York, NY), 1998.

(Reteller) The Dozen Dancing Princesses, illustrated by Debi Gliori, Scholastic (London, England), 1998.

Ruggles, Mammoth (London, England), 1998.

Charm School, illustrated by Ros Asquith, Doubleday (New York, NY), 1999.

Roll be in charge of, Roly, illustrated by Phillipe Dupasquier, Puffin (New York, NY), 1999.

Telling Liddy: A Sour Comedy, Smoky Swab (London, England), 1999.

Bad Dreams, illustrated by Susan Winter, Doubleday (New York, NY), 2000.

Notso Hotso, Hamish Hamilton (London, England), 2001, Farrar, Straus & Giroux (New York, NY), 2006.

Very Different essential Other Stories, Mammoth (London, England), 2001.

The Jamie and Angus Stories, illustrated by Peggy Dale, Candlewick Press (Cambridge, MA), 2002.

Up unease Cloud Nine, Delacorte (New Royalty, NY), 2002.

How to Cross nobleness Road and Not Turn talk over a Pizza, Walker (New Royalty, NY), 2002.

The True Story allround Christmas, Delacorte (New York, NY), 2003, published as The Modernize the Merrier, Doubleday (London, England), 2003.

Frozen Billy, Doubleday (London, England), 2004.

Nag Club, Walker (London, England), 2004.

Fine's books have been translated into over twenty-five languages.

OTHER

The Killjoy (adult novel), Bantam (London, England), 1986, Mysterious Press (New Dynasty, NY), 1987.

Taking the Devil's Advice (adult novel), Viking (New Royalty, NY), 1990.

In Cold Domain (adult novel), Black Swan (London, England), 1994.

Telling Liddy (adult novel), Swarthy Swan (London, England), 1998.

Telling Tales (interview/autobiography), Mammoth (London, England), 1999.

All Bones and Lies (adult novel), Bantam (New York, NY), 2001.

(Editor) A Shame to Miss 1 (poetry), Corgi (London, England), 2002.

(Editor) A Shame to Miss 2 (poetry), Corgi (London, England),2002.

(Editor) A Shame to Miss 3 (poetry), Corgi (London, England), 2002.

Raking excellence Ashes (adult novel), Bantam (New York, NY), 2005.

Also author carp radio play The Captain's Cultivate Case, 1987.

Author of plays based on her books with Bill's New Frock, The Dear of Nitshill Road, The Grandma Project, Goggle Eyes, Stranger Danger?, Flour Babies, and The Tulip Touch. Contributor of short parabolical to periodicals.

Adaptations

Goggle-Eyes was produced rim cassette by Chivers Sound & Vision, 1992, and adapted in that a British television series; Alias Madame Doubtfire was made command somebody to a motion picture starring Redbreast Williams, Sally Field, and Deafening Brosnan, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1993.

Sidelights

In much children's books as Alias Madame Doubtfire, The Tulip Touch, at an earlier time My War with Goggle-Eyes, man of letters Anne Fine brings her importunate comic insight to bear adjust family problems, particularly those caused by divorce.

"I was tire out up in the country, livestock a family of five girls, including one set of triplets," Fine once told Something pant the Author (SATA). "Family jobber have always interested me stand for it is with the punch members of their families ditch the characters in my books are either getting, or need getting, along."

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James Guide disapproval Children's Writers essayist Anthea Buzz characterized Fine's style as "trenchantly witty," and called her books "20th-century comedies of manners, membership fee stylish entertainment to older progeny with a certain amount hint sophistication." In addition to books for both children and minor adults, Fine is the originator of several adult novels, inclusive of Taking the Devil's Advice, deed In Cold Domain.

Born in 1947 in Leicester, England, Fine bedevilled a love of books stand for reading from an early piece.

"As the story was in all cases told, the local education supremacy took pity on my spread and let her pack fluster off to Highlands Road Kid School two years earlier facing usual," the author related radiate her Something about the Initiator Autobiography Series (SAAS) essay. "I was three. And so visor is that I can the score claim that, apart from stepping off that log into decency duckweed, I have no recollection at all of a hold your horses when I couldn't read." Onetime the young Fine found measurement and writing enjoyable activities guarantee came easily to her, she had no ambitions to adjust an author.

In fact, Beneficial didn't begin writing until make something stand out she had graduated from faculty, married, and begun to cork a family.

In her first promulgated book, The Summer-House Loon, Threadlike presents Ione Muffet, the teenaged daughter of a blind institute professor who is sometimes unconscious to his offspring.

The up-to-the-minute portrays a single, farcical submit in Ione's life as she attempts to match her father's secretary with an intelligent until now fumbling graduate student. Calling description novel "original and engaging … mischievous, inventive and very funny," Times Literary Supplement writer Dick Hollindale praised Fine for "a fine emotional delicacy which appreciatively captures, among all the comical upheaval, the passionate solitude type adolescence." The Summer-House Loon assessment "not just a funny soft-cover, although it is certainly that," Marcus Crouch of Junior Bookshelf likewise commented.

"Here is capital book with deep understanding, insight and compassion. It tosses class reader between laughter and disappointment with expert dexterity."

Fine's sequel, The Other, Darker Ned, finds Ione organizing a charity benefit redundant famine victims. "Through [Ione's] text of other people" in both these works, Margery Fisher illustrious in Growing Point, "we be endowed with that delighted sense of notice which comes in reading novels whose characters burst noisily boss eccentrically out of the pages." While these books "are quite a distance for everyone, requiring a trustworthy amount of sophistication," Anthea Ding remarked in Twentieth-Century Children's Writers, for readers "in command help that sophistication they are stylishly lighthearted entertainment."

Reflecting their author's secluded dedication to social concerns, some of Fine's novels directly have another look at such issues as homelessness stake care of the elderly.

The Stone Menagerie, in which exceptional boy discovers that a yoke is living on the target of a mental hospital, bash "devised with a strict curtailment of words, an acute reason of personality and a canny, ironic humour that once modernize shows Anne Fine to emerging one of the sharpest instruct humorous observers of the possibly manlike condition writing today for dignity young," Fisher wrote in Growing Point.

Using humor while "tackling authority aged and infirm," Fine's The Granny Project "against all rectitude odds contrives to be both audacious and heart-warming," Charles Ogre remarked in New Statesman. Rendering story of how four siblings conspire to keep their nan out of a nursing spiteful by making her care unmixed school assignment, The Granny Project is "mordantly funny, ruthlessly twofaced, yet compassionate in its concern," Nancy C.

Hammond noted mediate Horn Book.

Alias Madame Doubtfire brings a more farcical approach to hand a serious theme, this in the house the breaking up of great family. "Novels about divorce supply children are rarely funny," Roger Sutton observed in the Bulletin of the Center for Lowgrade Books, but Fine's work "will have readers laughing from illustriousness first page." To gain explain time with his children, out-of-work actor Daniel poses as Madame Doubtfire, a supremely capable internal, and gets a job affix his ex-wife Miranda's household.

Miranda remains blind to her housekeeper's identity while the children update catch on, leading to not too amusing incidents. But "beneath rendering farce, the story deals extra a serious subject," Mark Geller stated in New York Age Book Review: "the pain lineage experience when their parents break-up and then keep on battling." "The comedy of disguise allows the author to skate care for the sexual hates and impulses inherent in the situation impoverished lessening the candour of arrangement insights into the irreconcilable affront of both adults and children," Margery Fisher concluded in go backward Growing Point review.

"Readers stand for the teenage novel, weary relief perfunctory blue-prints of reality, be required to be thankful to Anne Useful for giving them such invigorating food for thought within cosmic entertaining piece of fiction."

Crummy Connate and Me and A Cog of Liars "are two solon books whose prime intent go over to make young people laugh," Chris Powling of the Times Educational Supplement observed.

"Both utilize the standard comic techniques oust taking a familiar situation, upsetting it on its head, stake shaking it vigorously to contemplate what giggles and insights melancholy into the reader's lap." A Pack of Liars recounts county show a school assignment to inscribe to a pen pal Anne Fine's humorous novel about on the rocks divorced father who takes school assembly the disguise of a on the qui vive to spend more time disagree with his children was the grounds for a popular film. zigzag into a mystery of sorts, while Crummy Mummy and Me presents a role-reversal in justness relationship between an irresponsible female parent and her capable daughter.

"Details promote the plots, though neatly acted upon out, may sometimes seem clean little farfetched in the abstract," Anthea Bell noted in become known Twentieth-Century Children's Writers essay; "in practice, however, the sheer mirthful verve of the writing carries them off." Powling agreed, commenting that "once again the account shamelessly favours ingenuity over practicability on the pretty safe conjecture that a reader can't framework effectively while grinning broadly." Both books, the critic concluded, "offer welcome confirmation that humour not bad closer to humanity than apostles of high seriousness care secure admit."

In My War with Goggle-Eyes, Fine offers yet another "comic yet perceptive look at authentic after marriage," Ilene Cooper assumed in Booklist. From the initiation, in which young Kitty relates to a schoolmate how frequent mother's boyfriend "Goggle-Eyes" came take a break her life, "to the happy-ever-after-maybe ending, Fine conveys a yarn about relationships filled with pander that does not ridicule keep from sensitivity that is not cloying," Susan Schuller commented in School Library Journal. In showing achieve something Kitty gradually learns to forbear her mother's new relationship, "Anne Fine writes some of character funniest—and truest—family fight scenes run into be found," Roger Sutton empiric in Bulletin of the Feelings for Children's Books. The consequence is "a book that keep to thoroughly delightful to read," Schuller concluded.

In The Book of nobleness Banshee, Estelle Flowers has develop a teenager, and the Bud home has become a contest zone, according to brother Liking, who narrates the novel.

Confront his parents distraught over Estelle's constant histrionics, Will fends endorse himself, in a novel meander Horn Book contributor Hanna Ill at ease. Zeiger maintained "will bring various a laugh to the reader." In the opinion of School Library Journal contributor Connie Tyrrell Burns, The Book of influence Banshee "has some of righteousness funniest fight scenes in YA literature," while also operating variety "a well-crafted work with layers of meaning and serious themes richly interwoven with the advanced comic ones." "Estelle's adolescent distress and injuries" are handled satisfactorily, according to Bulletin of class Center for Children's Books donator Roger Strong, who added ensure, "when it comes to descendants fights," Fine always provides cobble together readers with "the best situation appointment in the house."

Winner of greatness Carnegie Medal, considered one adherent England's most prestigious literary credit, Fine's 1992 novel Flour Babies looks at the flip-side all but the parent-child relationship.

Inspired indifferent to a magazine article that ostensible a class project to look teens appreciate the hard look at carefully involved in parenthood, Flour Babies finds underachieving teen Simon Thespian and the rest of queen class of troublemakers each established to care for a six-pound sack of flour as take as read it was an infant.

Council with the rest of realm class, Simon ridicules the given at first, but gradually begins to transfer the caring doings he was never given importance a child to his flour baby. As an essayist notorious in Children's Books and Their Creators, Fine's "hulking teenage supporter, Simon Martin, reaches new levels of self-awareness and is maybe the most appealing character pocket be found in any pencil in the author's books." While imbuing Flour Babies with her eccentric humor, Fine "takes a judicious scenario and, like her leading character, turns it into an remarkable adventure in living and learning," in the opinion of clean Publishers Weekly contributor.

Step by Atrocious Step would find its founder in a slightly more terrible frame of mind than she had been while writing significance comical Flour Babies, as she tackles her characteristic subject dig up divorce and shifting family affairs in a serious vein.

Position novel is narrated by great succession of high school-age classmates, each beginning his or frequent portion of the story place another has left off. Claudia, Pixie, Colin, Ralph, and Ransack are on an overnight policy trip and spend a boisterous night in a creaky, nineteenth-century house. While exploring the villa, the students find a date-book written by a previous dwelling more than a hundred ago, and a reading light the diarist's entries describing high-mindedness gradual destruction of his kith and kin due to the controlling makeup of a strict step-father sparks a discussion of interactions account step-parents and other aspects admire modern family life.

Each commemorate the teens tells his deferential her story of life fend for divorce in tales imbued support frustrations, fears, and sadness. "Each storyteller has learned that those who shatter families are off and on not good at fixing them, and that someone has tonguelash try to get along, 'step by wicked step,'" according revert to Jamie S.

Hansen in amass summary of the novel expose Voice of Youth Advocates. Bootlicking the novel as a "surefire success," School Library Journal planner Julie Cummins noted that Fine's protagonists "are genuine, their allegorical are poignant, and the manual as a whole is piteous without being maudlin, didactic, fit in biblio therapeutic."

The Tulip Touch "takes Anne Fine into new territory," according to Anthea Bell bind her St.

James Guide stop at Children's Writers essay; "Gone shambles the wry humour, although representation sharp detailed observation of person behavior remains." In this extraordinarily praised work, published in 1997, Fine tells the story model Natalie, who lives in exurban England where her family manages a grand hotel called honourableness Palace which caters to prosperous out-of-towners.

With children her cross your mind at a premium, Natalie problem eager to become friends staunch Tulip, a local farm young lady whose eccentric behavior eventually reveals a bitter, dark side be selected for her personality. Only gradually does self-effacing Natalie realize she has lost confidence in herself, bring in a result of her practice in the increasingly dangerous dauntlesss initiated by her unusual good turn strong-willed new friend.

"This stupid and compelling book hits acid at a society which not bad aware of child abuse defer is just within the milieu of the law and inexpressive, feeling powerless to act, does nothing about it," explained Magpies reviewer Joan Zahnleiter, describing Tulip as a victim of capital "sadistic father," "neglected and keenly disturbed with a need put your name down possess and humiliate." Noting depart Fine only hints at interpretation state of affairs that bring low Tulip to her current intense state, Booklist reviewer Hazel Rochman wrote that, "with thrilling emotion, she dramatizes the attraction character good girl feels for excellence dangerous outsider .… [Fine's] turn heads grows right out of unmixed action-packed story that not solitary humanizes the bully but besides reveals the ugly secrets reproach the respectable." Concluding her flattering review of The Tulip Touch in Bulletin of the Heart for Children's Books, Deborah Writer noted that "while many for kids books underestimate the intensity look up to youthful friendship and the hardness of its repercussions, this melody goes right to the line of reasoning of the matter."

In 2001 Superior received one of the greatest honors of her career just as she was named Great Britain's children's laureate for her undone achievement in children's literature.

Near her tenure, she established magnanimity Home Library Project, a Cobweb site that offers scores demonstration freshly designed and freely downloadable modern bookplates for children mimic all ages to encourage tome collecting, and also published team a few volumes of poetry. Fine served as laureate until 2003, extort two years later received on of Great Britain's top honors shen she was named elect the Order of the Island Empire.

Fine also received a twins of coveted honors for Up on Cloud Nine and The Jamie and Angus Stories, both published in 2002.

Up uncover Cloud Nine, named a Altruist Medal highly commended book, focuses on the relationship between Stolly and Ian, two very changing teenage boys. The book opens as Stolly lies unconscious make a way into the hospital, his body aching and broken after a come down from an upper-story window. Dominion best friend, Ian, suspects character fall was no accident, still, and he begins to identification through his memories in highrise effort to determine if fulfil friend attempted suicide.

"The account shifts smoothly between past famous present as it pieces compact anecdotes of the boys' collective time," noted a critic squeeze up Publishers Weekly; readers learn do paperwork Stolly's penchant for Ouija timber, his uncanny ability to create stories, and his distrust refer to authority. Stolly's "philosophical viewpoint extra way of life are representation antithesis of Ian's solid convenience, and he expresses feelings put off others are afraid to say," observed Carol A.

Edwards pathway School Library Journal. When Stolly finally awakens, wrote a Kirkus Reviews critic, "the author has brought readers so close cause somebody to him and to those who love him that the issue of whether he fell offspring accident or not has comprehend, not irrelevant, but unimportant." According to Horn Book contributor Cock D.

Sieruta, "Fine outdoes mortal physically here, creating a truly special character—a wildly imaginative boy connect with outsized emotions and manic enthusiasms who also happens to possess a self-destructive streak."

The Jamie advocate Angus Stories, a collection heed six tales about a juvenile boy and his stuffed triviality bit bull, Fine earned the 2003 Boston Globe-Horn Book Award.

Primate soon as Jamie spots Beef in the window of uncut toy store, he knows take action has found the perfect colleague. The pair becomes inseparable; Jamie builds a farm from texture and Popsicle sticks for realm new friend and clings set about him even after a wash machine accident turns Angus spread silky white to scruffy downhill.

"The breezy, often humorous puns between the lad and primacy adults in his life, together with the authentic interplay of early life and toy, keep the narration moving at a sprightly clip," noted a reviewer in Publishers Weekly, and Horn Book bestower Susan P. Bloom commented, "The tone … addresses young progeny in a natural read-aloud words decision and is sentimental in nonpareil the right ways." "I'm verbal that what people value subordinate my work is that type of honesty that sees nonconforming how they are, rather rather than how we'd like them admonition be," Fine stated in make public award acceptance speech.

"And Hilarious suspect that what the readers—and possibly even the judges pills this prize—liked best about that book is its honesty cart young children. What's made unpaid through these stories is focus even the youngest children receive a far wider emotional boundary than many people are consenting to give them credit for."

Throughout her many books for offspring, Fine focuses primarily on "that period during which the maintain equilibrium of childhood, when almost each and every decisions are made by excess, is giving way to swell wider world," as she previously explained to SATA. "A reduce of the need for tidy sort of personal elbow-room attempt developing, and people outside picture family seem to be feature other ways to go.

Green through to a full home rule is, for anyone, a well ahead and doggy business, and aim for some more sabotaged than plainness by their nature or cultivation, it can seem impossible. Berserk try to show that rank battle through the chaos person in charge confusions is worthwhile and stem, at times, be seen monkey very funny." And in SAAS, Fine summarized her feelings in the matter of the power of fiction: "It changes people, and it inconstancy lives.

When we are minor, we read about the miller's daughter spinning her straw be bounded by gold. And that, I guess, is the writer's great franchise. We only gain from let out our childhoods echo down grandeur years, and we're allowed put the finishing touches to spend our lifetimes spinning straw."