Posted on 09/07/2007 11:49:59 AM PDT by Borges
HARTFORD, Conn. -- Author Madeleine L'Engle, whose novel "A Wrinkle in Time" has been enjoyed by generations of schoolchildren and adults since the 1960s, has died, her publicist said Friday. She was 88.
L'Engle died Thursday at a nursing home in Litchfield of natural causes, according to Jennifer Doerr, publicity manager for publisher Farrar, Straus and Giroux.
The Newbery Medal winner wrote more than 60 books, including fantasies, poetry and memoirs, often highlighting spiritual themes and her Christian faith.
Although L'Engle was often labeled a children's author, she disliked that classification. In a 1993 Associated Press interview, she said she did not write down to children.
"In my dreams, I never have an age," she said. "I never write for any age group in mind. When people do, they tend to be tolerant and condescending and they don't write as well as they can write.
"When you underestimate your audience, you're cutting yourself off from your best work."
"A Wrinkle in Time" -- which L'Engle said was rejected repeatedly before it found a publisher in 1962 -- won the American Library Association's 1963 Newbery Medal for best American children's book. Her "A Ring of Endless Light" was a Newbery Honor Book, or medal runner-up, in 1981.
In 2004, President Bush awarded her a National Humanities Medal.
"Wrinkle" tells the story of adolescent Meg Murry, her genius little brother Charles Wallace, and their battle against evil as they search across the universe for their missing father, a scientist.
L'Engle followed it up with further adventures of the Murry children, including "A Wind in the Door," 1973; "A Swiftly Tilting Planet," 1978, which won an American Book Award; and "Many Waters," 1986.
“A Wrinkle in Time” is one of the truly great books. I don’t believe there’s ever been a movie adaptation, and that seems odd — or perhaps Ms. L’Engle was too smart to sell the rights to Hollywood ...
Dang, thought it said “Albright.”
Gotta get these glasses fixed.
They wouldn’t want it because the book is anticommunist.
There have been several adaptations, none memorable. One was a radio play, and one was a TV movie.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Wrinkle_in_Time_(film)
~snif~
Oh please. There hve been plenty of good film adaptations of classic literature.
Heh, GMTA. Musta been posting mine when you were posting yours!
Oh dear.
My mom knew her- a truly lovely person..have read all her books at least once..and had great times reading her children’s books to my son when he was little.
Godspeed Madeleine..
Interesting in that she didn't like being called a 'children's author' because she said she didn't think it was good to write in a 'tolerant or condescending manner'. Probably why her books are so good!
“A Wrinkle in Time” is one of the truly great books.
Yep. I still recall our third or fourth grade teacher reading it to the class over the course of one year.
Rest in peace.
Thanks, all, for the info!
Rest in peace, lady.
The article doesn’t mention any survivors. Was she married? Did she have family?
Not a good week to be an incredibly talented person. Godspeed, Madeleine.
I remember reading this when I was in 3rd grade. Hmmm, might need to find a copy and read it again.
I have to admit -- I've never read the book. There used to be a copy on my bookshelf many years ago.
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