Mary Norton (writer)

This article is about the British author. For the American author born Alice Mary Norton, see Andre Norton. For other uses, see Mary Norton.

Mary Norton
Mary Norton
Mary Norton
BornKathleen Mary Pearson
(1903-12-10)10 December 1903
London, England, UK
Died29 August 1992(1992-08-29) (aged 88)
Bideford, Devon, England, UK
OccupationWriter
NationalityBritish
GenreChildren's fantasy novels
Notable works
Notable awardsCarnegie Medal
1952

Kathleen Mary Norton (née Pearson; 10 December 1903 – 29 August 1992), known professionally as Mary Norton, was an English writer of children's books.[1] She is best known for The Borrowers series of low fantasy novels (1952 to 1982), which is named after its first book and, in turn, the tiny people who live secretly in the midst of contemporary human civilisation.

Norton won the 1952 Carnegie Medal from the Library Association, recognising The Borrowers as the year's outstanding children's book by a British author.[2] For the 70th anniversary of the Medal in 2007 it was named one of the top 10 winning works, selected by a panel to compose the ballot for a public election of the all-time favourite.[3][a] Norton's novels The Magic Bed Knob; or, How to Become a Witch in Ten Easy Lessons and Bonfires and Broomsticks were adapted into the 1971 Disney film Bedknobs and Broomsticks.

  1. ^ "Mary Norton." St. James Guide to Children's Writers, 5th ed. St. James Press, 1999.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference medal1952 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference topten was invoked but never defined (see the help page).


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