children's book

story

nationality

British

occupation / innovator as

university teacher

novelist

intellectual movement

atheism

librarian

playwright

executive producer

children's writer

religion

scientific organization

Royal Society of Literature

is, unlike adult literary fiction, not afraid of stories. Adult writers are even embarrassed by them. If they could write novels without stories in them, they would. Sometimes they do. We need stories so much that we’re even willing to read bad books to get them, if the good books won’t supply them. We all need stories, but children are more frank about it.

There are some themes, some subjects, too large for adult fiction; they can only be dealt with adequately in a children’s book. In adult literary fiction, stories are there on sufferance. Other things are felt to be more important: technique, style, literary knowingness… The present-day would-be George Eliots take up their stories as if with a pair of tongs. They’re embarrassed by them. If they could write novels without stories in them, they would. Sometimes they do. We need stories so much that we’re even willing to read bad books to get them, if the good books won’t supply them. We all need stories, but children are more frank about it.

is the only place where certain themes and subjects which are too large for adult fiction can be dealt with adequately.

is, in adult literary fiction, something writers are embarrassed by. If they could write novels without stories in them, they would. Sometimes they do.

Philip Pullman

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Philip PullmanThinkers

Philip Pullman