Robin McKinley
Encyclopedia
Robin McKinley is a distinguished author of fantasy and children's books who has written sixteen books to date. Her latest book Pegasus was published in 2010. She has announced the planned publication of a new novel, coming in 2013, as well as two additional books, to be released at a later date, which will continue the story begun in Pegasus.
. Her father William McKinley was an officer in the United States Navy
and her mother Jeanne Turrell McKinley was a teacher. As a result of her father's changing naval posts, McKinley grew up all over the world including in California
, New York
, Japan
, and Maine
. She was educated at Gould Academy
, a preparatory school in Bethel, Maine
. McKinley went on to attend college, first at Dickinson College
in Carlisle, Pennsylvania
in 1970-1972. She finished her college education at Bowdoin College
in Brunswick, Maine
and graduated summa cum laude in 1975.
Robin McKinley currently lives in Hampshire, England with her husband, author Peter Dickinson
. They have two dogs nicknamed Chaos and Darkness. They have no children though Peter Dickinson has children from a previous relationship. Her "obsessions" include learning how to play the piano, horseback riding, gardening, cooking, and bell ringing.
The heroines in McKinley's books reflect certain qualities that she saw in herself as a young woman: clumsiness, plainness, bookishness, and disinterest in the usual social games that involve flirting and dating (she says, "I didn't discover boys because they didn't discover me, and because their standards of discovery seemed to me too odd to be aspired to. They were the ones who got to have adventures, while we got to -- well, not have adventures.")
She writes about strong heroines because she feels very strongly about the potential for girls to be "doing things" and she feels that the selection of fantasy literature featuring girls is scarce and unsatisfactory. According to biographer Marilyn H. Karrenbrock, "McKinley's females do not simper; they do not betray their own nature to win a man's approval. But neither do they take love lightly or put their own desires before anything else. In McKinley's books, the romance, like the adventure, is based upon ideals of faithfulness, duty, and honor."
As far as her writing goes, McKinley describes herself as a "scribe" and "Damar's historian", because the stories "happen to her" and she is only responsible for writing them down. The stories of Damar have been occurring to her since before she wrote Beauty, and The Blue Sword was intended to be the first of a series about this land. Her first two Damar books, The Blue Sword and The Hero and the Crown, are both set there, as are her contribution to the Imaginary Lands anthology and the stories in A Knot in the Grain. She has also written several retellings of fairy tales; Beauty and Rose Daughter are both versions of Beauty and the Beast
, Spindle's End is the story of Sleeping Beauty
, and Deerskin and two of the stories in The Door in the Hedge are based on other folk-tales.
Biography
Robin McKinley was born as Jennifer Carolyn Robin McKinley on 16 November 1952 in Warren, OhioWarren, Ohio
As of the census of 2000, there were 46,832 people, 19,288 households and 12,035 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,912.4 people per square mile . There were 21,279 housing units at an average density of 1,322.9 per square mile...
. Her father William McKinley was an officer in the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
and her mother Jeanne Turrell McKinley was a teacher. As a result of her father's changing naval posts, McKinley grew up all over the world including in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, and Maine
Maine
Maine is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, New Hampshire to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the northeast. Maine is both the northernmost and easternmost...
. She was educated at Gould Academy
Gould Academy
Gould Academy is a private, co-ed, college preparatory boarding and day school located in the small town of Bethel, Maine, United States. Founded in 1835, the school offers skiing and snowboarding programs, although unlike specialized "ski academies" it remains first and foremost a college-prep...
, a preparatory school in Bethel, Maine
Bethel, Maine
Bethel is a town in Oxford County, Maine, United States. The population was 2,411 at the 2000 census. It includes the villages of West Bethel and South Bethel...
. McKinley went on to attend college, first at Dickinson College
Dickinson College
Dickinson College is a private, residential liberal arts college in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. Originally established as a Grammar School in 1773, Dickinson was chartered September 9, 1783, five days after the signing of the Treaty of Paris, making it the first college to be founded in the newly...
in Carlisle, Pennsylvania
Carlisle, Pennsylvania
Carlisle is a borough in and the county seat of Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, United States. The name is traditionally pronounced with emphasis on the second syllable. Carlisle is located within the Cumberland Valley, a highly productive agricultural region. As of the 2010 census, the borough...
in 1970-1972. She finished her college education at Bowdoin College
Bowdoin College
Bowdoin College , founded in 1794, is an elite private liberal arts college located in the coastal Maine town of Brunswick, Maine. As of 2011, U.S. News and World Report ranks Bowdoin 6th among liberal arts colleges in the United States. At times, it was ranked as high as 4th in the country. It is...
in Brunswick, Maine
Brunswick, Maine
Brunswick is a town in Cumberland County, Maine, United States. The population was 20,278 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Portland-South Portland-Biddeford metropolitan area. Brunswick is home to Bowdoin College, the Bowdoin College Museum of Art, the Peary-MacMillan Arctic Museum, , and the...
and graduated summa cum laude in 1975.
Robin McKinley currently lives in Hampshire, England with her husband, author Peter Dickinson
Peter Dickinson
Peter Malcolm de Brissac Dickinson OBE is an English author and poet who has written a wide variety of books, notably children's books and detective stories, over a long and distinguished career.-Life and work:...
. They have two dogs nicknamed Chaos and Darkness. They have no children though Peter Dickinson has children from a previous relationship. Her "obsessions" include learning how to play the piano, horseback riding, gardening, cooking, and bell ringing.
Career
After graduating from college, she remained in Maine for several years working as a research assistant and later in a bookstore. During this time, she completed her first book Beauty: A Retelling of the Story of Beauty and the Beast which was accepted for publication by the first publisher it was sent to and upon publication, it immediately pushed McKinley to prominence. The book was named an American Library Association Notable Children's Book and a ALA Best Book for Young Adults.Writing
Robin McKinley has written a variety of novels, mostly in the fantasy genre. Some of her novels are her own personal renditions of classic fairy tales with a “feminist twist.” These renditions of classic fairy tales usually feature a strong female protagonist who does not sit around waiting to be rescued; instead the heroine takes an active role in determining the course of her own life. Besides adapting classic fairy tales, McKinley has also produced her own renditions of other popular tales such as Robin Hood in her novel The Outlaws of Sherwood. McKinley has also written many standalone novels including her two Damar novels, The Blue Sword and The Hero and the Crown. She has also written reader favorites Sunshine and Dragonhaven.The heroines in McKinley's books reflect certain qualities that she saw in herself as a young woman: clumsiness, plainness, bookishness, and disinterest in the usual social games that involve flirting and dating (she says, "I didn't discover boys because they didn't discover me, and because their standards of discovery seemed to me too odd to be aspired to. They were the ones who got to have adventures, while we got to -- well, not have adventures.")
She writes about strong heroines because she feels very strongly about the potential for girls to be "doing things" and she feels that the selection of fantasy literature featuring girls is scarce and unsatisfactory. According to biographer Marilyn H. Karrenbrock, "McKinley's females do not simper; they do not betray their own nature to win a man's approval. But neither do they take love lightly or put their own desires before anything else. In McKinley's books, the romance, like the adventure, is based upon ideals of faithfulness, duty, and honor."
As far as her writing goes, McKinley describes herself as a "scribe" and "Damar's historian", because the stories "happen to her" and she is only responsible for writing them down. The stories of Damar have been occurring to her since before she wrote Beauty, and The Blue Sword was intended to be the first of a series about this land. Her first two Damar books, The Blue Sword and The Hero and the Crown, are both set there, as are her contribution to the Imaginary Lands anthology and the stories in A Knot in the Grain. She has also written several retellings of fairy tales; Beauty and Rose Daughter are both versions of Beauty and the Beast
Beauty and the Beast
Beauty and the Beast is a traditional fairy tale. The first published version of the fairy tale was a rendition by Gabrielle-Suzanne Barbot de Villeneuve, published in La jeune américaine, et les contes marins in 1740...
, Spindle's End is the story of Sleeping Beauty
Sleeping Beauty
Sleeping Beauty by Charles Perrault or Little Briar Rose by the Brothers Grimm is a classic fairytale involving a beautiful princess, enchantment, and a handsome prince...
, and Deerskin and two of the stories in The Door in the Hedge are based on other folk-tales.
Awards
- 1983 Newbery Honor for The Blue Sword.
- 1985 Newbery Medal for The Hero and the Crown.
- 1986 World Fantasy Award for Anthology/Collection for Imaginary Lands.
- 1998 Phoenix Award Honor Book for Beauty.
- 2004 Mythopoeic Fantasy Award for Adult Literature for Sunshine.
Novels
- Beauty: A Retelling of the Story of Beauty and the BeastBeauty: A Retelling of the Story of Beauty and the BeastBeauty: A Retelling of the Story of Beauty & the Beast was first published in 1978 by children's book author Robin McKinley. It was her first book, retelling the classic French fairy tale La Belle et La Bete. The book was the 1998 Phoenix Award honor book. It was the 1966-1988 Best of the Best...
(1978) - The Door in the HedgeThe Door in the HedgeThe Door in the Hedge is a collection of fairy tales by Robin McKinley. First published by William Morrow and Company in 1981, it is a compilation of retellings and new favorites. The collection includes The Stolen Princess, The Princess and the Frog, The Hunting of the Hind, and The Twelve Dancing...
(1981) - The Blue SwordThe Blue SwordThe Blue Sword is a fantasy novel written by Robin McKinley and published by the Berkley Publishing Group in 1982. The novel The Hero and the Crown serves as a prequel. The Blue Sword has received numerous awards, including: Newbery Honor Award, ALA Best Book for Young Adults and the ALA Notable...
(1982) - The Hero and the CrownThe Hero and the CrownThe Hero and the Crown is a fantasy novel written by Robin McKinley and published by Greenwillow Books in 1984. It is the winner of the 1985 Newbery Medal award. The book is the prequel to The Blue Sword, written in 1982. This story focuses on "Aerin Dragon-Killer," also known as "Aerin...
(1985) - The Outlaws of SherwoodThe Outlaws of SherwoodThe Outlaws of Sherwood is a retelling of the legend of Robin Hood by Robin McKinley. In McKinley's Afterword, the history of the tales of Robin Hood is described as "the retellings through the centuries have echoed concurrent preoccupations."...
(1988) - DeerskinDeerskin (novel)Deerskin is a dark fantasy novel by Robin McKinley, first published in 1993. It is based on an old French fairy tale by Charles Perrault called Peau d'âne . It was nominated for the Mythopoeic Fantasy Award for Adult Literature....
(1993) - Rose DaughterRose DaughterRose Daughter is a second retelling of the tale of Beauty and the Beast by Robin McKinley, published in 1997.Like McKinley's original Beauty, the heroine has a strong, independent personality that sets her apart from the average fairy-tale female. In the original fairytale, Beauty's sisters were...
(1997) - Spindle's EndSpindle's EndSpindle's End is a retelling of Sleeping Beauty by author Robin McKinley, published in 2000.-Plot summary:In McKinley's version of the classic fairy tale, Sleeping Beauty, a wicked fairy named Pernicia appears on the princess' name-day and places a curse on the baby, claiming that the child will,...
(2000) - Sunshine (2003) Reissued in 2009.
- DragonhavenDragonhavenDragonhaven is a fantasy novel written by Robin McKinley, published by Putnam in 2007.- Plot summary :The story is set in the Smokehill National Park, a wildlife preserve for the preservation and study of dragons. The dragons are elusive; evidence of their existence can be found everywhere, but the...
(2007) - Chalice (2008)
- Pegasus (2010)
- Pegasus II (Forthcoming 2012)
Collections/Anthologies
- Imaginary Lands (1986)
- A Knot in the Grain (1994)
- Water: Tales of Elemental Spirits (2009)
- Fire: Tales of Elemental Spirits (2009)
Children’s Picture Books
- RowanRowanThe rowans or mountain-ashes are shrubs or small trees in genus Sorbus of family Rosaceae. They are native throughout the cool temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere, with the highest species diversity in the mountains of western China and the Himalaya, where numerous apomictic microspecies...
(1992) - My Father Is in the Navy (1992)
- The Stone Fey (1998)
Selected Scholarly Work on Robin McKinley's Works
In no particular order- Hearne, Betsy. "Beauty and the Beast: Visions and Revisions of an Old Tale: 1950-1985." Lion and the Unicorn 12.2 (Dec. 1988): 74-111. Rpt. in Children's Literature Review. Ed. Tom Burns. Vol. 127. Detroit: Gale, 2008. Literature Resource Center. Web. 26 May 2011.
- ltmann, Anna E. "Welding Brass Tits on the Armor: An Examination of the Quest Metaphor in Robin McKinley's The Hero and the Crown."Children's Literature in Education 23.3 (Sept. 1992): 143-156. Rpt. in Children's Literature Review. Ed. Tom Burns. Vol. 127. Detroit: Gale, 2008. Literature Resource Center. Web. 26 May 2011.
- Sackelman, Ellen R. "More Than Skin Deep: Robin McKinley's Beauty: A Retelling of the Story of Beauty and the Beast." Women in Literature: Reading Through the Lens of Gender. Ed. Jerilyn Fisher and Ellen S. Silber. Westport, Conn.: Greenwood Press, 2003. 32-34. Rpt. inChildren's Literature Review. Ed. Tom Burns. Vol. 127. Detroit: Gale, 2008. Literature Resource Center. Web. 26 May 2011.
- Cadden, Mike. "Home Is a Matter of Blood, Time, and Genre: Essentialism in Burnett and McKinley." ARIEL 28.1 (Jan. 1997): 53-67. Rpt. inChildren's Literature Review. Ed. Tom Burns. Vol. 127. Detroit: Gale, 2008. Literature Resource Center. Web. 26 May 2011.
- Sanders, Lynn Moss. "Girls Who Do Things: The Protagonists of Robin McKinley's Fantasy Fiction." ALAN Review 24.1 (Fall 1996): 38-42. Rpt. in Children's Literature Review. Ed. Tom Burns. Vol. 127. Detroit: Gale, 2008. Literature Resource Center. Web. 26 May 2011.
- Cadden, Michael. "The Illusion of Control: Narrative Authority in Robin McKinley's Beauty and The Blue Sword." Mythlore 20.2 (Spring 1994): 16-19. Rpt. in Children's Literature Review. Ed. Tom Burns. Vol. 127. Detroit: Gale, 2008. Literature Resource Center. Web. 26 May 2011.
- Maryellen, Harris. "Beauty and the Beast: 20th Century Romance?" Merveilles and Contes 3.1 (May 1989): 75-83. Rpt. in Children's Literature Review. Ed. Scot Peacock. Vol. 81. Detroit: Gale, 2003. Literature Resource Center. Web. 26 May 2011.
- Rutledge, Amelia A. "Robin McKinley's Deerskin: Challenging Narcissisms." Marvels and Tales: Journal of Fairy Tales Studies 15.2 (2001): 168-182. Rpt. in Children's Literature Review. Ed. Tom Burns. Vol. 127. Detroit: Gale, 2008. Literature Resource Center. Web. 26 May 2011.
External links
- Robin McKinley's Website
- Robin McKinley's blog
- Bibliography on SciFanSciFanSciFan is an online database for fans of science fiction and fantasy books.The site provides detailed bibliographies, linking books together into series' where appropriate and, in turn, grouping series by universe...
- Interviews in Sherwood - Robin McKinley on her Outlaws of Sherwood novel
- Fansite with commentary and mailing list
- Robin McKinley cover art, novel synopses, reviews