Jan Mark
Encyclopedia
Jan Mark was a British author, best known as a writer for children. She was christened Janet Marjorie Brisland in Welwyn Garden City
in 1943 and was raised and educated in Kent
. She was a secondary school teacher between 1965 and 1971, and became a full-time writer in 1974. She wrote over fifty novels and plays and many anthologized short stories. She was divorced, and is survived by her daughter Isobel. Her son Alex took his own life 8 months after her death. She won the Carnegie Medal
for Thunder and Lightnings
(1976) and for Handles (1983).
She is known for her acutely-observed short stories which are concise and show an imaginative use of language. She also wrote novels about seemingly ordinary children in contemporary settings, e.g. Thunder and Lightnings, as well as science fiction novels set in their own universes with their own rules, e.g. The Ennead. Her last works include the young adult novels The Eclipse of the Century and Useful Idiots.
The title of Thunder and Lightnings, a story set in rural Norfolk
, is a reference to the British RAF jet fighter the English Electric Lightning
and in turn inspired the name of a website of the history of that aeroplane and others of a similar time.http://www.thunder-and-lightnings.co.uk
Jan Mark was popular in Flanders, Belgium, where she participated in an educational project to stimulate teachers of English into using teenage fiction in the classroom. Her Flemish friends devoted a website to her and to her work. http://www.janmark.be
Jan Mark died suddenly at her home in Oxford from meningitis
-related septicaemia in January 2006.
Welwyn Garden City
-Economy:Ever since its inception as garden city, Welwyn Garden City has attracted a strong commercial base with several designated employment areas. Among the companies trading in the town are:*Air Link Systems*Baxter*British Lead Mills*Carl Zeiss...
in 1943 and was raised and educated in Kent
Kent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
. She was a secondary school teacher between 1965 and 1971, and became a full-time writer in 1974. She wrote over fifty novels and plays and many anthologized short stories. She was divorced, and is survived by her daughter Isobel. Her son Alex took his own life 8 months after her death. She won the Carnegie Medal
Carnegie Medal
The Carnegie Medal is a literary award established in 1936 in honour of Scottish philanthropist Andrew Carnegie and given annually to an outstanding book for children and young adults. It is awarded by the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals...
for Thunder and Lightnings
Thunder and Lightnings
Thunder and Lightnings is a children's book, the first novel written by Jan Mark. It won the Penguin Guardian Award for a first children’s book and the Carnegie Medal for 1976...
(1976) and for Handles (1983).
She is known for her acutely-observed short stories which are concise and show an imaginative use of language. She also wrote novels about seemingly ordinary children in contemporary settings, e.g. Thunder and Lightnings, as well as science fiction novels set in their own universes with their own rules, e.g. The Ennead. Her last works include the young adult novels The Eclipse of the Century and Useful Idiots.
The title of Thunder and Lightnings, a story set in rural Norfolk
Norfolk
Norfolk is a low-lying county in the East of England. It has borders with Lincolnshire to the west, Cambridgeshire to the west and southwest and Suffolk to the south. Its northern and eastern boundaries are the North Sea coast and to the north-west the county is bordered by The Wash. The county...
, is a reference to the British RAF jet fighter the English Electric Lightning
English Electric Lightning
The English Electric Lightning is a supersonic jet fighter aircraft of the Cold War era, noted for its great speed and unpainted natural metal exterior finish. It is the only all-British Mach 2 fighter aircraft. The aircraft was renowned for its capabilities as an interceptor; Royal Air Force ...
and in turn inspired the name of a website of the history of that aeroplane and others of a similar time.http://www.thunder-and-lightnings.co.uk
Jan Mark was popular in Flanders, Belgium, where she participated in an educational project to stimulate teachers of English into using teenage fiction in the classroom. Her Flemish friends devoted a website to her and to her work. http://www.janmark.be
Jan Mark died suddenly at her home in Oxford from meningitis
Meningitis
Meningitis is inflammation of the protective membranes covering the brain and spinal cord, known collectively as the meninges. The inflammation may be caused by infection with viruses, bacteria, or other microorganisms, and less commonly by certain drugs...
-related septicaemia in January 2006.
Selected bibliography
- King John and the Abbot (2006) ISBN 978-1-84299-385-9
- Voyager (2006) the sequel to Riding Tycho ISBN 978-0-333-99774-1
- TurbulenceTurbulence (novel)Turbulence is a children's novel by Jan Mark, published in 2005. It was shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal.-Plot summary:Turbulence relates the story of Clay, a sixteen year old girl on the verge of taking her GCSEs...
(2005) ISBN 0-340-86099-5 - Riding Tycho (2005) ISBN 0-340-91320-7
- Useful Idiots (2004) ISBN 0-385-75023-4
- The Eclipse of the Century (1999) ISBN 0-439-01482-4
- Mr Dickens Hits Town (1999) ISBN 0-88776-468-1
- The Midas Touch (1999) ISBN 0-7636-0488-7
- My Frog and I (1997) ISBN 1-903285-97-6
- The Tale of Tobias (1996) ISBN 1-56402-692-2
- They Do Things Differently There (1994) ISBN 0-09-941397-3
- Fun With Mrs Thumb (1993) ISBN 1-56402-247-1
- Enough Is Too Much AlreadyEnough Is Too Much AlreadyEnough Is Too Much Already is a children's short story collection by Jan Mark, published in 1988.The short stories are unusual because they are written entirely in dialogue. They revolve around the exploits of Nazzer, Nina, and Maurice, three sixth form students who are re-sitting their GCSEs at...
(1988) ISBN 0-370-31094-2 - Zeno Was Here (1988) ISBN 0-374-29664-2
- Fun (1988) ISBN 0-670-82457-7
- Trouble Half-way (1986) ISBN 0-689-31210-5
- Fur (1986) ISBN 0-7445-0478-3
- Handles (1985) ISBN 0-689-31140-0
- Feet and Other Stories (1983) ISBN 0-7226-5839-7
- Aquarius (1982) ISBN 0-689-31051-X
- The Dead Letter Box (1982) ISBN 0-241-10804-7
- Nothing To Be Afraid Of (1981) ISBN 0-06-024087-3
- Hairs in the Palm of the HandHairs in the Palm of the HandHairs in the Palm of the Hand is a children's novel by British author Jan Mark, published in 1981.One of Mark's keenly observed school stories, Hairs in the Palm of the Hand comprises two short novellas...
(1981) ISBN 0-7226-5728-5 - Divide and Rule (1980) ISBN 0-690-04012-1
- The Ennead (1978) ISBN 0-690-03872-0
- Under the Autumn Garden (1977) ISBN 0-7226-5347-6
- Thunder and Lightnings (1976) ISBN 0-690-03901-8