Diana Wynne Jones (16 August 1934 – 26 March 2011) stood as a prominent British writer, poet, academic, literary critic, and author of short stories. Her primary focus rested on crafting fantasy and speculative fiction novels catering to children and young adults. While her works are commonly categorized as fantasy, a portion of her creations also interwove science fiction concepts and elements of reality. Jones’s literary endeavors often delved into the realms of time travel and the existence of parallel or multiple universes. Among her well-recognized creations are the Chrestomanci series, the Dalemark series, the trilogy of Moving Castle novels, Dark Lord of Derkholm, and The Tough Guide to Fantasyland.
Early life
Born in London, Diana Jones hailed as the daughter of Marjorie (née Jackson) and Richard Aneurin Jones, both of whom pursued careers in education. The declaration of war shortly after her fifth birthday led to her evacuation to Pontarddulais in Wales, where her grandfather served as a minister at a chapel. However, her stay in Wales was brief due to a family dispute, prompting her to relocate multiple times, including residencies in the Lake District, York, and London. In 1943, her family eventually settled in Thaxted, Essex, where her parents managed an educational conference center. In this environment, Diana and her two younger sisters, Isobel (later known as Professor Isobel Armstrong, a literary critic) and Ursula (who would later become an actress and children’s writer), experienced a childhood marked by self-reliance.
Career
Diana Jones embarked on her writing journey during the mid-1960s as a means to maintain her mental well-being. This period coincided with her youngest child reaching the age of about two, while the family resided in a house affiliated with an Oxford college. Amidst the challenges posed by the various crises faced by the adults in the household – ailing husband, mother-in-law, sister, and a friend with a daughter – Diana sought solace through her creative output. Her inaugural book, titled Changeover, entered the literary scene as a novel targeted at adult readers. Macmillan published it in 1970. The book’s inception aligned with the gradual decolonization of the British Empire, a time marked by the granting of independence to numerous small islands and nations, a phenomenon she vividly recalled in 2004.
Illness and death
The early summer of 2009 marked the diagnosis of lung cancer for Diana Jones.[30] Subsequent to surgical intervention in July, she conveyed to her acquaintances that the procedure had yielded positive results. Nevertheless, by June 2010, she made known her decision to discontinue chemotherapy due to the adverse effects it imposed on her well-being. During the middle of 2010, she found herself halfway through the composition of a new book, with plans for yet another creation in the pipeline. Unfortunately, on 26 March 2011, Diana Jones succumbed to the illness that had plagued her. She breathed her last surrounded by her husband, three sons, and five grandchildren, subsequently being cremated at Canford Cemetery.
On 16 August 2014, a Google Doodle was created to celebrate Diana Wynne Jones’ 80th Birthday.
