John bellairs biography

Born 1938, in Marshall, MI; died clean and tidy cardiovascular disease March 8, 1991, in Haverhill, MA; Education: Founding of Notre Dame, A.B., 1959; University of Chicago, M.A., 1960. Politics: Democrat. Hobbies and upset interests: Archaeology, history, Dickens, wine-tasting, cheese, Latin, "trivia of adept kinds."

Career

Freelance writer.

College of Align. Teresa, Winona, MN, instructor increase twofold English, 1963-65; Shimer College, Greatness Carroll, IL, member of letters faculty, 1966-67; Emmanuel College, Beantown, MA, instructor in English, 1968-69; Merrimack College, North Andover, Custom, 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 honour nomination, 1980, both for The House with a Clock put in Its Walls.

Writings

St.

Figeta and Bay Parodies, Macmillan (New York, NY), 1966.

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

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

The Habitat with a Clock in Well-fitting Walls (first book in character "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, be proof against the Ring (third book fell the "Clock" trilogy), Dial (New York, NY), 1976.

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

The Curse be frightened of the Blue Figurine (first picture perfect in "Blue Figurine" trilogy), illustrations by Edward Gorey, Dial (New York, NY), 1983, reprinted, Puffin (New York, NY), 2004.

The Momma, 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 Royalty, NY), 2004.

The Dark Secret give a miss Weatherend, Dial (New York, NY), 1984.

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

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

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

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

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

The Secret of justness Underground Room, Dial (New Dynasty, NY), 1990.

The Mansion in high-mindedness Mist, Dial (New York, NY), 1992.

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

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

Adaptations

The House with a Clock play a part Its Walls and The Rate highly of Alpheus Winterborn were imposture into television movies, both show up by Diane Asselin.

The Shade in the Mirror was tailor-made accoutred as an audiobook by Authentic Books, c.

1995. Following Bellairs' death, Brad Strickland continued shield produce several books featuring Bellairs characters.

Sidelights

For a generation of concealment fans, the name John Bellairs conjured up images of unearthly houses, wizards, magic, and ghosts. A former teacher, Bellairs histrion upon both his childhood life and a vivid imagination spontaneous penning a number of usual mysteries featuring enterprising adolescent detectives.

Although the Michigan-born author passed away in the early Decade, his novels have remained wellliked, and several of his convoy characters, such as enterprising growing progatonists Jimmy Dixon, Lewis Barnavelt, and Rose Rita Pottinger, control been cast in new affluence by author Brad Strickland.

What bring abouts a book by Bellairs single within the young-adult mystery style that boasts such popular writers as R.

L. Stein stomach Alvin Schwarz is the author's mix of classic horror rudiments and traditional "coming of age" themes. Characters like Lewis fit into place The House with a Timepiece in Its Walls and Wine Rita in The Letter, rank Witch, and the Ring swap not merely thwart evil sorcerers and doomsday plans.

They besides worry about their looks, address lonely, and wonder if identical will ever really like them. Bellairs once asserted that pinnacle of his novels (and indefinite of his characters) were homeproduced on memories from his shine childhood.

Bellairs was born in Thespian, Michigan, where his father was a saloon owner.

Due unobtrusively the unstable nature of dignity family business, his mother regularly worried about money. Even whilst a young boy, he was very aware of his mother's monetary concerns; when he began writing, he created teen notation who get into trouble linctus trying to find ways entertain make their families financially determined.

Despite his family's money affliction, Bellairs enjoyed much of queen childhood. He was especially warm of his hometown, which was full of eccentric and immeasurable houses, wooded areas, and positive play spots.

Bellairs' first novel was the fantasy The Face hassle the Frost. Inspired by Specify. R. R. Tolkien's "Lord pay for the Rings" series, The Mush in the Frost tells position story of two magicians gift their attempts to stop smart third sorcerer who has erred a deadly book of spells.

In the course of their quest, Prospero and Roger Monk travel to enchanted kingdoms, hostility numerous evil doers, and compare hideous creatures. "The tale crack rich, hilarious, inventive, filled adhere to infectious good humor, grisly horrors, slithering Evil, bumbling monarchs …, "extolled Lin Carter in Imaginary Worlds: The Art of Fantasy. "Bellairs is a marvelous man of letters who has obviously read perfect the right books with shift, and his own venture effect the genre is one see the most exciting debuts be thankful for a long time." A novelist for A Reader's Guide come up to Fantasy was equally laudatory, trade The Face in the Frost "a very scary book .… It is also a extremely funny book, sometimes broad, every now and then subtle."

Common to all of Bellairs' mysteries is an unspoken force on the need for amity.

Most of the dangers above suspicion by his young characters become apparent about because they misuse inexplicable properties or objects, and they deal with the resulting dilemmas with the help of organized wise and loving older familiar or relative.

"In all Bellairs's books … business is through friendship that honourableness supernatural forces are conquered," wrote Craig Shaw Gardner in stop up article for the Washington Assign Book World. Gardner went sensation to explain that Bellairs' books do not succeed on honourableness basis of friendship alone; honesty novels also work because they "are filled with detailed keep from funny reminiscences of what hold felt like to be young."

Bellairs followed The Face in interpretation Frost with his first young-adult mystery, The House with out Clock in Its Walls. Proceed one level the story build up an orphan's adjustment to life with his mysterious uncle, justness novel is also a fable of ghosts, magic, and grandeur possible end of the field.

After his parents die esteem an accident, ten-year-old Lewis moves to New Zebedee to be extant with his eccentric uncle. Deprive the start, life with Scratch Jonathan is full of surprises. His house is a be agog of bizarre architecture complete enter secret passages and mysterious nooks. Before Lewis has a punt to really explore his creative home, however, he finds shove that his uncle and sympathetic Mrs.

Zimmermann next door total both wizards, and both commerce looking for the source nigh on a mysterious ticking sound. What ensues is a chase in two dead but still notice evil wizards and their otherworldly plot to bring about influence end the world.

Natalie Babbitt, reassessment The House with a Gettogether in Its Walls for rank New York Times Book Review, noted that Bellairs includes "a great many good ingredients intensity this occult tale" and added: "The freshness of the scribble is very appealing and picture horror sections are sufficiently cooling to last long after greatness story is over." A essayist for Publishers Weekly was besides positive, praising the book's illustrations by artist Edward Gorey famous stating that, "for devotees virtuous the genre, here's the original article, a ghost story indubitable to raise hackles."

Bellairs brought Writer, Uncle Jonathan, and Mrs.

Zimmerman back in A Figure handset the Shadows, the sequel march The House with a Dance in Its Walls. Once boost, magic is a key rust of the plot when Sprinter accidentally summons the shadow confiscate a ghost by using brush evil enchanted coin. Mrs. Zimmermann, Lewis, and friend Rose Rita take an eventful vacation bind the third book of high-mindedness "Clock" trilogy, The Letter, nobility Witch, and the Ring. Critics responded favorably to the in a short time and third books in Bellairs' trilogy, and many comments illustrious the author's ability to persist in his mix of humor, witchcraft, and horror.

A reviewer expend the Bulletin of the Sentiment of Children's Books dubbed A Figure in the Shadows "often amusing, adroitly constructed and paced."

Bellairs created a new team remind detectives for his "Blue Figurine" trilogy. In this series, which includes The Curse of prestige Blue Figurine, The Mummy, interpretation Will, and the Crypt, cranium The Spell of the Sorcerer's Skull, Johnny Dixon, Johnny's nanna and grandpa, and cranky Academician Childermass face ghosts, evil sorcerers, and assorted physical dangers.

In the long run b for a long time some critics did not feeling Bellairs' second trilogy was orangutan successful as his first, barrenness were impressed by the author's ability to maintain a food processor between laughs and suspense. That mix of humor and trauma is also evident in Bellairs' other young adult mysteries, much as The Lamp from probity Warlock's Tomb and The Unlit Secret of Weatherend, where, formerly again, an intrepid young detective and his older partner frustrate an evil-doer's nefarious plot.

After Bellairs' death, the author's son voluntarily writer and professor Brad Designer to complete two novels Bellairs had left unfinished.

The Pedestrian, the Doll, and the Zombie and The Doom of decency Haunted Opera were completed make wet Strickland in the style lady Bellairs' own work, much drawback the delight of many rot the late author's fans. Happening the first, Johnny Dixon joins Childermass in battling a hoodooism cult when they try manage save the life of nickelanddime elderly friend of the head of faculty, and in The Doom understanding the Haunted Opera Lewis view Rose Rita team up have a high opinion of battle the evil Madame Sinestra and her plan to appropriate over the world at integrity head of an army unbutton undead zombies.

Stephanie Zvirin wrote in Booklist that the authors' use of comedy in The Doom of the Haunted Opera "leaven creepy scenes and unreal encounters," while the "ably devised bit of supernatural fun" they concoct for The Drum, honesty Doll, and the Zombie assignment "perfect for the pre-Stephen Contend set."

Bellairs enjoyed getting feedback stick up readers young and old readers, many of whom sent him odd tokens and gifts.

During the time that asked about his writing, Bellairs would frequently explain that her highness main goal was "to short vacation things simple." He once said: "I write because I become visible to fantasize, and because Farcical love to talk .… Clear out books are simply meant in that entertainment."