Alexander, Lloyd

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Lloyd Alexander (1924-2007) was a children's book author from Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania.

Lloyd Chudley Alexander was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on January 30, 1924. He spent his childhood in the nearby suburb of Drexel Hill and lived there most of his life. Alexander graduated from Upper Darby High School in 1940. His parents would not allow him to be a writer, so he worked for a local bank in Philadelphia. Once he had saved some money, he quit and went to a local college before quitting after one semester. Looking for adventure, he served in the US Army in World War II, which included spending time in Wales to train. The landscape, language, and castles made a great impression and would later become the setting of so many of his books. He served in the army for a time in Paris, before being discharged to attend the University of Paris. At the same time, he met Janine, a beautiful Parisian, whom he married in 1946. Alexander moved back to Drexel Hill with Janine and her daughter Madeline.

Alexander worked as an advertisement writer, layout artist, cartoonist, and assistant editor while he tried to get his novels published. It took seven years before his first book was published. He spent the following ten years writing for adults before turning to young adult novels. He won the Newbery Honor Medal for The Black Cauldron and the Newbery Medal for The High King . Series and books by Alexander include the Prydain Chronicles, the Westmark Trilogy, the Vesper Holly Adventures, and over twenty other young adult novels, five adult novels, and four French translations. Alexander's other hobbies include music, cats, and drawing. He played the violin and was a devoted fan of Mozart. Alexander died May 17, 2007--just two weeks after Janine died.

From the guide to the Lloyd Alexander papers, 1924-2007, (L. Tom Perry Special Collections)

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Edna Edwards Interviews with Children's Authors and Illustrators, 1966-1976 Loyola Marymount University. Library. Department of Archives and Special Collections.
referencedIn Photographs of American author Lloyd Alexander, 1998 L. Tom Perry Special Collections
referencedIn Marsha D. Broadway professional papers, 1985-2011 L. Tom Perry Special Collections
referencedIn New Directions Publishing records Houghton Library
creatorOf Lloyd Alexander papers, 1924-2007 L. Tom Perry Special Collections
creatorOf Alexander, Lloyd, 1924-. Crónicas de Prydain [archivo de computadora] / Lloyd Alexander. Biblioteca Nacional de Mexico
referencedIn May Sarton Papers, 1846-1995, 1920-1995 The New York Public Library. Henry W. and Albert A. Berg Collection of English and American Literature.
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Broadway, Marsha D. person
associatedWith Edwards, Edna. person
associatedWith New Directions Publishing Corp. corporateBody
associatedWith Sarton, May, 1912-1995 person
associatedWith Walt Disney Company corporateBody
associatedWith Westwood, P. Bradford, 1957- person
Place Name Admin Code Country
Subject
Archives
Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences
Children's literature, American
Ciegos
Literature
Occupation
Activity

Person

Birth 1924-01-30

Death 2007-05-17

Americans

English

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