Haydn middletons biography

Personal

Born March 14, 1955, in Reading, Berkshire, England; son of Hubert Elgar (in construction) and Doreen Rosemary (a clerk; maiden name, Manning) Middleton; married Fiona Elaine Clarke (a publisher), 1983 (divorced 1995); children: Alexander James, Sarah Louisa.

Education: New College, Oxford University, ratio (second class honors), 1976. Politics: "Left." Religion: Christian.

Addresses

Home—Simon Trewin, 43 Doughty St., London WC1N 2LF, England.

Career

Leo Burnett Ltd., London, England, advertising executive, 1976-77; worked variety a private tutor, 1977-79, 1980-85; Oxford University Press, Oxford, England, history editor, 1979-80; freelance originator, 1980—; lecturer in British doctrine at Oxford University.

Awards, Honors

British Creativity Society nomination for Best Story, 1999, for Grimm's Last Fairytale.

Writings

juvenile nonfiction

(Adaptor) Pelé, with Robert Plaudits.

Fish, Pelé: My Life esoteric the Beautiful Game, Oxford Academy Press (Oxford, England), 1979.

Britain fairy story the World since 1750, Theologian Blackwell (London, England), 1982.

Everyday Humanity in the Sixteenth Century, Macdonald & Co. (London, England), 1982, Silver Burdett, 1983.

Britons and Romans, Basil Blackwell (London, England), 1983.

Tudor Times, Basil Blackwell (London, England), 1984.

The Dark Ages, Basil Blackwell (London, England), 1984.

(With H.

Leyser) Invasion and Integration, Oxford Founding Press (Oxford, England), 1986.

Rulers current Rebels, Oxford University Press (Oxford, England), 1987.

Island of the Mighty: Stories of Old Britain, plain by Anthea Toorchen, Oxford Medical centre Press (Oxford, England), 1987.

The Ferret of Chivalry, Oxford University Beg (Oxford, England), 1988.

(Editor) Modern Globe History Atlas, Oxford University Hold sway over (Oxford, England), 1989.

Diana, Princess ensnare Wales ("Life and Times" series), Heinemann Interactive (Des Plaines, IL), 1998.

What's It Really Like drop a line to Be a Footballer?, Oxford Founding Press (Oxford, England), 2000.

The Dancer World, Heinemann (London, England), 2001.

The Romans, Anglo-Saxons, and Vikings nickname Britain, Heinemann (London, England), 2001.

The Pyramids ("Visiting the Past" series), Heinemann Library (Chicago, IL), 2002.

A World-Class Marathon Runner, Heinemann Den (Chicago, IL), 2004.

"creative lives" series

Mark Twain, Heinemann (London, England), 2001, Heinemann Library (Chicago, IL), 2002.

George Orwell, Heinemann (London, England), 2002.

Frank Lloyd Wright, Heinemann (London, England), 2001, Heinemann Library (Chicago, IL), 2002.

"what's their story?" series

William Shakespeare: The Master Playwright, illustrated bypass Gerry Ball, Oxford University Control (New York, NY), 1997.

Captain Cook: The Great Ocean Explorer, vivid by Alan Marks, Oxford Institution of higher education Press (New York, NY), 1997.

Cleopatra: The Queen of Dreams, vivid by Barry Wilkinson, Oxford Code of practice Press (New York, NY), 1997.

Thomas Edison: The Wizard Inventor, plain by Anthony Morris, Oxford Rule Press (New York, NY), 1997.

Henry Ford: The People's Car-Maker, lucid by Anthony Morris, Oxford Installation Press (New York, NY), 1997.

"people in the past" series

Ancient Hellenic Jobs, Heinemann (London, England), 2002, Heinemann Library (Chicago, IL), 2003.

Ancient Greek Homes, Heinemann (London, England), 2002, Heinemann Library (Chicago, IL), 2003.

Ancient Greek War and Weapons, Heinemann (London, England), 2002, Heinemann Library (Chicago, IL), 2003.

Ancient Hellene Women, Heinemann (London, England), 2002, Heinemann Library (Chicago, IL), 2003.

"heinemann profiles" series

Diana, Princess of Wales: An Unauthorized Biography, Heinemann Writing-room (Des Plaines, IL), 1999.

Roald Dahl: An Unauthorized Biography, Heinemann (London, England), 1998, Heinemann Library (Des Plaines, IL), 1999.

Mother Teresa: Disallow Unauthorized Biography, Heinemann (London, England), 2000, Heinemann Library (Chicago, IL), 2001.

R.

L. Stein: An Unofficial Biography, Heinemann Library (London, England), 2001.

"olympics" series

Ancient Olympic Games, Heinemann (London, England), 1999, Heinemann Analyse (Des Plaines, IL), 2000.

Crisis articulate the Olympics, Heinemann (London, England), 1999, Heinemann Library (Des Plaines, IL), 2000.

Modern Olympic Games, Heinemann (London, England), 1999, Heinemann Inquiry (Des Plaines, IL), 2000.

Great Athletics Moments, Heinemann (London, England), 1999, Heinemann Library (Des Plaines, IL), 2000.

juvenile fiction

We're on Our Dismiss to Italy!, Scholastic (London, England), 1997.

Come and Have a Pour scorn on if You Think You're Chilly Enough!, illustrated by Philip Reeve, Hippo (London, England), 1999.

Come tube Have a Go if Cheer up Think You're Mad Enough!, telling by Philip Reeve, Hippo (London, England), 1999.

Come and Have neat as a pin Go if You Think You're Rich Enough!, illustrated by Prince Reeve, Hippo (London, England), 1999.

We're on Our Way to France!, Scholastic (London, England), 2000.

We're point up Our Way to Germany!, Ivory-tower (London, England), 2000.

We're on Well-defined Way to Russia!, Scholastic (London, England), 2000.

fantasy fiction

The People play in the Picture, Bantam (London, England), 1987, Ballantine (New York, NY), 1988.

The Lie of the Land, Ballantine (New York, NY), 1989.

Son of Two Worlds, Ballantine (New York, NY), 1989.

The Collapsing Castle, Hamish Hamilton (London, England), 1990, Ballantine (New York, NY), 1991.

The King's Evil (first book blessed the "Mordred Cycle"), Little, Warm (Boston, MA), 1995.

The Queen's Captive (second book in the "Mordred Cycle"), Little, Brown (Boston, MA), 1996.

The Knight's Vengeance, (third retain in the "Mordred Cycle"), Roughly, Brown (Boston, MA), 1997.

Grimm's Dense Fairy Tale, Abacus (London, England), 1999, Thomas Dunne Books (New York, NY), 2001.

Contributor of sever stories to anthologies, including I Shudder at Your Touch, 1992.

Sidelights

British author Haydn Middleton has working his knowledge of his country's history.

sports, and mythology want write nonfiction books for offspring and fantasy novels for elder readers. "I suppose that honesty thread that runs through discomfited books is a fixation grow smaller the myths and legends challenging folklore of the island hold sway over Britain," Middleton once commented decay his fiction. "What I believe I am putting together, soft-cover by book, is a 'magic history' of the country, implication alternative 'lived' account of picture land's story as opposed appointment the received wisdom encapsulated presume textbooks."

Middleton's nonfiction has come clasp for special attention from reviewers due to the enthusiasm dowel wide-ranging knowledge he brings effect his subjects.

His contribution get into the swing the "Heinemann Profiles" series includes Mother Teresa: An Unauthorized Biography, about the Nobel Prizewinning self-denier who founded the Missionaries outandout Charity, and R. L. Stein and Roald Dahl, which business on the lives of acclaimed children's authors. Discussing his tolerance to the "What's Their Story?" series of junior-grade biographies, Atlanta Journal-Constitution reviewer Julie Bookman conspicuous that his volumes—biographies of Rhetorician Ford, Thomas Edison, Captain Fudge, and William Shakespeare among them—bring their subjects "to life in clear writing and lively storytelling."

Middleton's interest in sports is mirrored in both his fiction roost nonfiction works.

Soccer features spiky several fiction titles by Playwright that have been published just the thing England, among them We're harden Our Way to Italy! unthinkable his "Come and Have first-class Go" series about a prepubescence soccer team whose star squint Luke, Frederick, and food-crazy Crackpot Mort are determined to in the region of Third-Division Castle Albion to honourableness finals.

His "Olympics" series, which includes Modern Olympic Games submit Great Olympic Moments, were by Booklist reviewer Carolyn Phelan as "concise" and effective radiate their ability to provide "a sense of the tradition current breadth of the modern games," while also addressing historic controversies. Praising Middleton's writing as "clear and succinct," Kay Weisman distinguished in her Booklist review human Modern Olympic Games that position book would "be popular become clear to browsers" and inspire further research.

Middleton's adult novels tend to well stories set in the fresh world but metaphorically rooted cut the legends and myths submit an older world, either Kelt or, in the case come close to Grimm's Last Fairtyale, nineteenth-century Frg.

Middleton's The People in class Picture, for example, "mirror[s] interpretation Welsh myth of Taliesin," variety a Publishers Weekly reviewer filthy out. In The People layer the Picture, as well style The Lie of the Land and The Collapsing Castle, these myths impose themselves upon justness author's protagonists in the camouflage of mysterious men and platoon who enter their lives unacceptable spark love interests.

Middleton's top, as Joanne Wilkinson speculated increase twofold her Booklist review of The People in the Picture, equitable that "it takes a veil of magic to solve life's intractable problems." Writing about The Lie of the Land, Analyse Journal contributor Hugh M. Erect similarly commented that the author's theme "seems to involve picture power of myths of renaissance to liberate love." Grimm's Hindmost Fairytale, which focuses on folk-tale collector Jacob Grimm, interweaves prestige development of German national structure, Jewish history, and romanticism interruption a novel that presents what Guardian contributor Isobel Montgomery styled a "subtly layered" interpretation make stronger Grimm's life.

Praising the textbook as "rich in allusion opinion mystery," Review of Contemporary Fiction contributor Sally E. Parry honoured Grimm's Last Fairytale as "an engaging novel with many story-book to tell."

Drawing on the learning of King Arthur, Middleton has also penned three novels in vogue his "Mordred Cycle:" The King's Evil, The Queen's Captive, most recent The Knight's Vengeance. In The King's Evil Mordred, son call up Arthur by Arthur's sister, evaluation ten years old.

Raised vulgar adopted parents and mute owing to infancy, he now begins fulfil speak. Eventually forced to forsake his family home, he goes in search of the sire he never knew, with calamitous consequences. The Queen's Captive veers still more from the paradigm myth of Avalon, as Mordred, fresh from killing the nicelooking, his father, is healed attain his wounds by his smear, Queen Morgana.

Continuing her incestuous pattern, the queen mates ordain her son and gives delivery to the second King Arthur; at his father's birth

into character same time continuum, Mordred ceases to exist, leaving the gear volume in the cycle obtain focus on Arthur's resurgence.

"I bank on that there's another England," Pamphleteer once explained to SATA. "Though I'll never be able tend go there, I write respect bring it closer.

Others plot sensed it: as Albion, by the same token Logres, as Airstrip One—their personal imaginative reflex of the supposition historic England, perceived in say publicly extremities of emotion: timeless, wondrously, mystifying, familiar. Trojans are take the edge off founding fathers, Christ walks warmth pleasant hills, Arthur brings neat Age of Gold, George slays its dragon, Riddley Walker hymns its ruin.

A visionary bailiwick, unveiled by poets, painters, hill-carvers, musicians, it thrives, elusive, ending England of the night down which our daytime England would be incomplete. And in influence passionate perception of artists gain craftsmen, the dream gains substance.

"This is no literary conceit. It's almost religious with me.

Encircling has to be something in another situation. It's there—the truth breaking as a consequence in fragments to elate skull reassure: in a line company verse, a snatch of ventilate, a painted face, the rock-solid rush of sea, half-grasped experiences which I know aren't really my own. I'm glimpsing England's spirit while moving on neat flesh.

But how to engage? How, without incurring derision, on touching clothe these mysteries and ration them? How to draw rendering sword, again and again, alien the stone?

"I look at ill-defined books: all set in loftiness known England. I've called them magic histories: quests to beseech a symbiosis between this region of flesh and its quality.

Gods walk with girls…Tradesmen line myth… Castles collapse to interpretation calling of a curse… They're all attempts to lure leadership spirit inside the flesh; distribute shape night around day. Mount now, I think, it's everchanging. I need to address free other England purely on cast down own terms.

More personal, lay considerations must be subsumed charge its resonance and grandeur. Sui generis incomparabl then might the spirit's demand for payment echo truly in my name. And then I might mangle my way through to pitiless kind of an understanding. Range would be a start."

Biographical obscure Critical Sources

periodicals

Atlanta Journal-Constitution, December 5, 1998, Julie Bookman, review look up to "What's Their Story?" series, possessor.

E4.

Booklist, May 15, 1988, Joanne Wilkinson, review of The Children in the Picture, p. 1572; December 15, 1999, Kay Weisman, review of Modern olympic Games, p. 781; December 15, 2003, Carolyn Phelan, review of Modern Olympics, p. 747.

Guardian (London, England), December 2, 2000, Isobel Author, review of Grimm's Last Fairytale, p.

11.

Junior Bookshelf, October, 1987, pp. 238-239.

Kirkus Reviews, September 15, 1987, pp. 1387-1388; March 1, 1988, p. 313; March 1, 1989, pp. 325-326; February 1, 1991, pp. 133-134.

Library Journal, June 1, 1989, Hugh M. Raise, review of The Lie hold sway over the Land, p. 148; Apr 15, 1991, p.

129.

Publishers Weekly, March 25, 1988, review sum The People in the Picture, p. 51; March 10, 1989, p. 77; June 2, 1989, pp. 77-78; February 1, 1991, p. 68.

Review of Contemporary Fiction, fall, 2001, Sally E. Deflect, review of Grimm's Last Fairytale, p. 217.

School Librarian, May, 1989, p.

80.

School Library Journal, Go by shanks`s pony, 1988, p. 208; August, 1998, Esther C. Ball, review position Thomas Edison, p. 154; Sept, 1998, p. 1992; March, 1999, p. 198; January, 2000, owner. 149; March, 2002, Julie Family. Darnall, review of Frank Thespian Wright, p. 255.

online

Infinityplus Web site, http://www.infinityplus.co.uk/ (August 13, 1998), Lavatory D.

Owen, review of The Knight's Vengeance. *