Robert Westall
Robert Westall was a notable English author recognized for his contributions to young adult literature, particularly in the genres of horror and fantasy. Born in Tynemouth in 1929, he pursued higher education at the University of Durham and later obtained a doctoral degree from the University of London. Westall's writing career began in earnest in the early 1970s when he started documenting his childhood experiences during World War II as a means to connect with his son. His debut novel, "The Machine-Gunners," published in 1975, captured the struggles of teenagers in wartime England and garnered significant acclaim despite its controversial themes, earning prestigious awards such as the Carnegie Medal.
Following this success, Westall published over forty novels and short-story collections, with notable titles including "The Watch House," "The Scarecrows," and "The Devil on the Road." His works continued to receive critical recognition, including further Carnegie Medals and honors from the American Library Association. Beyond writing, Westall had a long career as an art teacher, which he left in 1985 to focus on his writing full-time. He also contributed to various periodicals during his career. Westall passed away in 1993, leaving behind a rich legacy in children's literature.
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Robert Westall
Author
- Born: October 7, 1929
- Birthplace: Tynemouth, England
- Died: April 15, 1993
- Place of death: Cheshire, England
Biography
Robert Westall, a writer of young adult literature, was born in Tynemouth, England, in 1929, the son of Robert Westall, a supervisor at a gas works plant, and Maggie Alexandra Leggett Westall. Westall graduated from Tynemouth Municipal High School before entering the University of Durham, where he graduated with honors in 1953. In 1957, he completed a doctoral degree in fine arts at the University of London. After completing his degrees, Westall married Jean Underhill and they had one son. Westall then began a career as an art teacher. He taught at several schools throughout England, including Erdington Hall Secondary Modern School in Birmingham, Keighley Boy’s Grammar School in Yorkshire, and Sir John Dean’s College in Northwick.
In the early 1970’s, Westall, in an effort to share his childhood experiences with his son, wrote down stories from his years as a teenager living in England during World War II. Eventually these stories became the inspiration for more creative writing and in 1975, Westall made his literary debut with his first published work of fiction, The Machine-Gunners. The book told the story of five teens in wartime England who found a machine gun after the crash of a German warplane. The Machine-Gunners was met with controversy as it contained violence and strong language. Despite this controversy, the book was recognized for its literary excellence and earned several prestigious awards, including the Carnegie Medal from the Library Association of Great Britain, the Guardian Award Commendation, the Boston Globe/Horn Book Honor Book Citation, and the Leseratten Prize from Germany. The Machine-Gunners also was adapted into a British television series.
Following the success of his first book, Westall published numerous books, including several award-winning horror and fantasy novels for young adults. He was most noted for his titles The Watch House, The Scarecrows, and The Devil on the Road. These works earned several literary awards, including the Carnegie Medal from the Library Association of Great Britain and The Best Books for Young Adults Citation from the American Library Association.
By 1985, Westall had found enough success as a writer to leave his thirty-year career as an educator. For the remainder of his years, Westall continued to live in England, writing young adult novels and pursuing his interests in antiques and architecture. In total, Westall produced more than forty novels and short-story collections. In addition to writing novels, Westall served as a staff writer for several periodicals, including Cheshire Life, Chester Chronicle, and Guardian magazine. He died in 1993.