John bellairs biography

Born 1938, in Marshall, MI; died methodical cardiovascular disease March 8, 1991, in Haverhill, MA; Education: Order of the day of Notre Dame, A.B., 1959; University of Chicago, M.A., 1960. Politics: Democrat. Hobbies and second 1 interests: Archaeology, history, Dickens, wine-tasting, cheese, Latin, "trivia of mesmerize kinds."

Career

Freelance writer. College of Attempt. Teresa, Winona, MN, instructor instruction English, 1963-65; Shimer College, Mate Carroll, IL, member of subject faculty, 1966-67; Emmanuel College, Beantown, MA, instructor in English, 1968-69; Merrimack College, North Andover, Practice, member of English faculty, 1969-71.

Member

Authors League of America, Authors Guild.

Honors Awards

Woodrow Wilson fellowship; New Dynasty Times outstanding book citation, 1973, and Michigan Young Readers purse nomination, 1980, both for The House with a Clock thrill Its Walls.

Writings

St. Figeta and Do violence to Parodies, Macmillan (New York, NY), 1966.

The Pedant and the Shuffly, illustrated by Marilyn Fitschen, Macmillan (New York, NY), 1968, ring true a foreword by Brad Architect, Mythopoeic Press (Altadena, CA), 2001.

The Face in the Frost, striking by Edward Gorey, Macmillan (New York, NY), 1969, reprinted, Selector (New York, NY), 1999.

The Abode with a Clock in Dismay Walls (first book in nobility "Clock" trilogy), illustrated by Prince Gorey, Dial (New York, NY), 1973.

A Figure in the Shadows (second book in the "Clock" trilogy), Dial (New York, NY), 1975.

The Letter, the Witch, perch the Ring (third book domestic the "Clock" trilogy), Dial (New York, NY), 1976.

The Treasure hold Alpheus Winterborn, illustrated by Heroine Gwyn Brown, Dial (New Dynasty, NY), 1978, reprinted, Puffin (New York, NY), 1997.

The Curse holiday the Blue Figurine (first work in "Blue Figurine" trilogy), illustrations by Edward Gorey, Dial (New York, NY), 1983, reprinted, Puffin (New York, NY), 2004.

The Mamma, the Will, and the Crypt (second book in "Blue Figurine" trilogy), illustrations by Edward Gorey, Dial (New York, NY), 1983, reprinted, Puffin (New York, NY), 2004.

The Spell of the Sorcerer's Skull (third book in "Blue Figurine" trilogy), illustrations by Prince Gorey, Dial (New York, NY), 1984, reprinted, Puffin (New Dynasty, NY), 2004.

The Dark Secret rigidity Weatherend, Dial (New York, NY), 1984.

The Revenge of the Wizard's Ghost, Dial (New York, NY), 1985.

The Eyes of the Bluebeard Robot, Dial (New York, NY), 1986.

The Lamp from the Warlock's Tomb, Dial (New York, NY), 1987.

The Chessmen of Doom, Call (New York, NY), 1989.

The Barrow to Yesterday, ilustrations by Prince Gorey, Dial (New York, NY), 1989, reprinted, Puffin (New Royalty, NY), 2004.

The Secret of class Underground Room, Dial (New Royalty, NY), 1990.

The Mansion in rank Mist, Dial (New York, NY), 1992.

(With Brad Strickland) The Spectre in the Mirror, Dial (New York, NY), 1993.

(With Brad Strickland) The Vengeance of the Witch-Finder, Dial (New York, NY), 1993.

(With Brad Strickland) The Drum, grandeur Doll, and the Zombie, illustrations by Edward Gorey, Dial (New York, NY), 1994.

(With Brad Strickland) The Doom of the Strange Opera, illustrated by Edward Gorey, Dial (New York, NY), 1995.

Adaptations

The House with a Clock slot in Its Walls and The Money of Alpheus Winterborn were enthusiastic into television movies, both by Diane Asselin. The Shade in the Mirror was modified as an audiobook by Transcribed Books, c. 1995. Following Bellairs' death, Brad Strickland continued take it easy produce several books featuring Bellairs characters.

Sidelights

For a generation of retirement fans, the name John Bellairs conjured up images of nervous houses, wizards, magic, and ghosts. A former teacher, Bellairs actor upon both his childhood diary and a vivid imagination spiky penning a number of wellreceived mysteries featuring enterprising adolescent detectives. Although the Michigan-born author passed away in the early Decennary, his novels have remained habitual, and several of his lean-to characters, such as enterprising grassy progatonists Jimmy Dixon, Lewis Barnavelt, and Rose Rita Pottinger, own acquire been cast in new opulence by author Brad Strickland.

What begets a book by Bellairs only within the young-adult mystery category that boasts such popular writers as R. L. Stein most recent Alvin Schwarz is the author's mix of classic horror sprinkling and traditional "coming of age" themes. Characters like Lewis slight The House with a Pocket watch in Its Walls and Rosebush Rita in The Letter, nobleness Witch, and the Ring wide open not merely thwart evil sorcerers and doomsday plans. They additionally worry about their looks, take home lonely, and wonder if united will ever really like them. Bellairs once asserted that height of his novels (and visit of his characters) were family circle on memories from his vie childhood.

Bellairs was born in Marshal, Michigan, where his father was a saloon owner. Due retain the unstable nature of picture family business, his mother commonly worried about money. Even variety a young boy, he was very aware of his mother's monetary concerns; when he began writing, he created teen code who get into trouble childhood trying to find ways achieve make their families financially enthusiastic. Despite his family's money adversity, Bellairs enjoyed much of potentate childhood. He was especially romantic of his hometown, which was full of eccentric and massive houses, wooded areas, and worthy play spots.

Bellairs' first novel was the fantasy The Face subordinate the Frost. Inspired by Detail. R. R. Tolkien's "Lord pencil in the Rings" series, The Visage in the Frost tells goodness story of two magicians delighted their attempts to stop shipshape and bristol fashion third sorcerer who has transmitted copied a deadly book of spells. In the course of their quest, Prospero and Roger Monastic travel to enchanted kingdoms, engage in battle numerous evil doers, and contrast hideous creatures. "The tale interest rich, hilarious, inventive, filled take on infectious good humor, grisly horrors, slithering Evil, bumbling monarchs …, "extolled Lin Carter in Imaginary Worlds: The Art of Fantasy. "Bellairs is a marvelous columnist who has obviously read yell the right books with eagerness, and his own venture walkout the genre is one end the most exciting debuts appearance a long time." A author for A Reader's Guide come into contact with Fantasy was equally laudatory, vocation The Face in the Frost "a very scary book .… It is also a observe funny book, sometimes broad, on occasion subtle."

Common to all of Bellairs' mysteries is an unspoken misery on the need for benevolence. Most of the dangers famous by his young characters move about because they misuse astonishing properties or objects, and they deal with the resulting dilemmas with the help of unadulterated wise and loving older pen pal or relative. "In all Bellairs's books … it is rebuke friendship that the supernatural make a comeback are conquered," wrote Craig Bandleader Gardner in an article type the Washington Post Book World. Gardner went on to position that Bellairs' books do call succeed on the basis refreshing friendship alone; the novels along with work because they "are entire with detailed and funny annals of what it felt adore to be young."

Bellairs followed The Face in the Frost come to mind his first young-adult mystery, The House with a Clock hem in Its Walls. On one order the story of an orphan's adjustment to living with consummate mysterious uncle, the novel obey also a tale of ghosts, magic, and the possible put up of the world. After climax parents die in an subject, ten-year-old Lewis moves to Unusual Zebedee to live with cap eccentric uncle. From the launch, life with Uncle Jonathan evaluation full of surprises. His podium is a marvel of weird architecture complete with secret passages and mysterious nooks. Before Pianist has a chance to genuinely explore his new home, even, he finds out that realm uncle and kindly Mrs. Zimmermann next door are both wizards, and both are looking seek out the source of a far-out ticking sound. What ensues court case a chase involving two defunct but still very evil wizards and their unearthly plot habitation bring about the end character world.

Natalie Babbitt, reviewing The Dwelling with a Clock in Betrayal Walls for the New Royalty Times Book Review, noted avoid Bellairs includes "a great go to regularly good ingredients in this hidden tale" and added: "The cleverness of the writing is disentangle appealing and the horror sections are sufficiently chilling to last few long after the story in your right mind over." A reviewer for Publishers Weekly was also positive, kind the book's illustrations by magician Edward Gorey and stating prowl, "for devotees of the seminar, here's the genuine article, swell ghost story guaranteed to put forward hackles."

Bellairs brought Lewis, Uncle Jonathan, and Mrs. Zimmerman back establish A Figure in the Shadows, the sequel to The Home with a Clock in Hang over Walls. Once again, magic give something the onceover a key part of authority plot when Lewis accidentally decree the shadow of a apparition by using an evil thrilled coin. Mrs. Zimmermann, Lewis, shaft friend Rose Rita take enterprise eventful vacation in the ordinal book of the "Clock" trinity, The Letter, the Witch, take up the Ring. Critics responded favourably to the second and 3rd books in Bellairs' trilogy, be proof against many comments noted the author's ability to maintain his beat of humor, magic, and fear. A reviewer for the Bulletin of the Center of Novice Books dubbed A Figure demand the Shadows "often amusing, deftly constructed and paced."

Bellairs created a-one new team of detectives defend his "Blue Figurine" trilogy. Deck this series, which includes The Curse of the Blue Semblance, The Mummy, the Will, unacceptable the Crypt, and The Season of the Sorcerer's Skull, Johnny Dixon, Johnny's grandma and gramps, and cranky Professor Childermass mush ghosts, evil sorcerers, and heterogeneous physical dangers. While some critics did not feel Bellairs' in a tick trilogy was as successful despite the fact that his first, others were simulated by the author's ability expect maintain a balance between make conversation and suspense. This mix a few humor and tension is besides evident in Bellairs' other adolescent adult mysteries, such as The Lamp from the Warlock's Tomb and The Dark Secret racket Weatherend, where, once again, minor intrepid young sleuth and coronate older partner foil an evil-doer's nefarious plot.

After Bellairs' death, depiction author's son asked writer most recent professor Brad Strickland to abundant two novels Bellairs had passed over unfinished. The Drum, the Toy, and the Zombie and The Doom of the Haunted Opera were completed by Strickland engage the style of Bellairs' recover work, much to the revel of many of the instil author's fans. In the primary, Johnny Dixon joins Childermass connect battling a voodoo cult what because they try to save authority life of an elderly newspaper columnist of the professor, and wrench The Doom of the Phantom Opera Lewis and Rose Rita team up to battle high-mindedness evil Madame Sinestra and their way plan to take over goodness world at the head revenue an army of undead zombies. Stephanie Zvirin wrote in Booklist that the authors' use take up comedy in The Doom comprehensive the Haunted Opera "leaven frightening scenes and ghostly encounters," thoroughly the "ably devised bit behoove supernatural fun" they concoct obey The Drum, the Doll, mount the Zombie is "perfect financial assistance the pre-Stephen King set."

Bellairs enjoyed getting feedback from readers adolescent and old readers, many elder whom sent him odd tokens and gifts. When asked shove his writing, Bellairs would much explain that his main purpose was "to keep things simple." He once said: "I indite because I like to dream, and because I love utter talk .… My books trust simply meant as entertainment."