Susan Cooper
Susan Cooper is a distinguished British author known for her impactful contributions to children's and young adult literature. Born in 1935 in Buckinghamshire, England, she pursued her education at Slough High School and Somerville College, ultimately earning a master's degree in English from Oxford University in 1956. After beginning her career as a journalist with The Sunday Times, Cooper moved to the United States in 1963, where she published her first novel, "Mandrake," in 1964. She is best known for her five-volume series, "The Dark Is Rising," which skillfully blends Arthurian legend with contemporary themes, captivating young readers with its unique narrative.
Cooper's work often reflects her personal experiences, such as in "Dawn of Fear," inspired by her childhood during World War II. In addition to her novels, she has written illustrated children’s books, essays, and plays, showcasing her versatility as a writer. Throughout her career, Cooper has received various accolades, including the Newbery Medal for "The Grey King." Her legacy is marked by her ability to engage young audiences with rich, imaginative storytelling and profound themes.
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Subject Terms
Susan Cooper
Author
- Born: May 23, 1935
- Birthplace: Burnham, Buckinghamshire, England
Biography
Susan Cooper was born in 1935 in Burnham, Buckinghamshire, England, the daughter of a railroad employee and a teacher. She spent her childhood in Buckinghamshire, where she attended Slough High School. Cooper moved with her parents to Aberdovey, Wales, when she was twenty-one. She attended Somerville College for her undergraduate studies, and in 1956 she earned her master’s degree in English from Oxford University. After her graduation from Oxford, Cooper began working for The Sunday Times in London, first as a reporter and later as a feature writer. In 1963, she immigrated to the United States to marry scientist Nicholas J. Grant, with whom she had two children.
She published her first novel, Mandrake, in 1964. The following year, her first novel for young adults, Over Sea, Under Stone, was released, the first book in the five-volume Dark Is Rising saga. The other books in the series were The Dark Is Rising (1973), Greenwitch (1974), The Grey King (1975), and Silver on the Tree (1977). The series intermingles Arthurian legend with modern life and a remarkable group of people known as “the Old Ones.” Another of her young adult novels, Dawn of Fear (1970), is about three English children who grow up during World War II and was based upon Cooper’s childhood experiences during the war.
In addition to her young adult novels, Cooper published illustrated children’s books, a collection of essays about writing for children, a biography of author J. B. Priestley, and a nonfiction book about the United States, Behind the Golden Curtain: A View of the U.S.A. (1965). She wrote a stage play, Foxfire (pr. 1980), with actor Hume Cronyn and several plays for television, including her adaptation of Foxfire, which aired in 1983, and The Dollmaker, which she wrote with Cronyn.
In 1983, Cooper divorced Grant. She married Cronyn in 1996 and lived with him in Connecticut until his death in 2003. Cooper is the recipient of numerous awards, including the Newbery Medal in 1976 for The Grey King, a Newbery Award Honor Book citation in 1974 for The Dark Is Rising, the Parent’s Choice Award, and the Writer’s Guild of America Award for The Dollmaker.