Geoffrey Trease
Geoffrey Trease was a renowned British children's author born in 1909 in Nottingham, England, near the legendary Sherwood Forest. His childhood experiences, including imaginative play inspired by Robin Hood and a passion for classic adventure stories, greatly influenced his writing. Trease excelled in historical studies at Nottingham High School and later attended Queen's College, Oxford, although he left after his first year. He began his career as a social worker in London's East End before transitioning to teaching and ultimately to writing full-time after marrying fellow teacher Marian Haselden in 1933.
Trease's debut novel, "Bows Against the Barons," published in 1934, marked the beginning of his influential career, during which he became a pioneer of children's historical fiction. Notably, he was known for creating dynamic protagonists of both genders in his stories, elevating the standards of children's literature. He also authored one of the first works of children's literary criticism, "Tales out of School," which analyzed 20th-century children's literature and set a precedent for future literary critiques. In addition to his literary contributions, Trease was an advocate for writers' rights, serving as chairman of the Society of Authors in the 1970s. He continued writing until his death in 1998, leaving behind a legacy of over fifty years of impactful storytelling.
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Geoffrey Trease
Author
- Born: August 11, 1909
- Birthplace: Nottingham, England
- Died: January 27, 1998
- Place of death: Bath, England
Biography
Children’s author Geoffrey Trease was born in 1909 in Nottingham, England, just outside of Sherwood Forest. He was the son of George Albert Trease, a wine merchant, and Florence Dale Trease. As a child, Trease played imagination-filled games in Sherwood Forest, the home of Robin Hood. He also was an avid reader and read most of the classic adventure stories as a young boy. His avid imagination and early love for reading would influence his later writing.
As a pupil at Nottingham High School, Trease excelled in historical studies. Upon graduation, he won a scholarship to study classical literature at Queen’s College, Oxford University. After failing academically in his first year, he resigned his scholarship and left college. He moved to London’s East End, where he worked as a social worker. He also began to pursue a career as a writer by publishing essays in magazines and newspapers.
In the early 1930’s, Trease accepted a position as a history and English teacher at a private school in Essex. Here, he met a fellow teacher, Marian Haselden Granger Boyer, whom he married in 1933. The couple moved to Bath, where Trease pursued a full-time writing career.
Trease drew on his childhood fascination with Robin Hood to create his first book, Bows Against the Barons, published in 1934. The book, an account of the life of Robin Hood, was written in a modern style that differed from the children’s literature of the time. The book was well received by the public, and its success launched Trease’s fifty-year writing career. Trease was considered the pioneer of children’s historical fiction and was noted for his creation of both female and male protagonists.
Trease spent much of his career elevating the standards of children’s literature. In 1949, he published one of the first works of children’s literary criticism, Tales out of School: A Survey of Children’s Fiction. This book was the first examination of twentieth century children’s literature and became the standard for future children’s literary criticism. Trease also fought for the rights of writers. Throughout the 1970’s, he served as the chairman of the Society of Authors, where he was actively involved in a dispute over public lending practices and copyright laws.
In his later years, Trease wrote two autobiographies, A Whiff of Burnt Boats: An Early Autobiography and Laughter at the Door: A Continued Autobiography. These books chronicled his development as a writer set against the background of his happy home life. Trease continued to write until his death in 1998 at the age of eighty-eight.