The Borrowers

The Borrowers
Stanley cover of first edition
AuthorMary Norton
IllustratorDiana L. Stanley (first)[1]
Beth and Joe Krush (US)[2]
LanguageEnglish
SeriesThe Borrowers
GenreChildren's fantasy novel
PublisherJ. M. Dent (first)
Harcourt, Brace (US)[2]
Publication date
1952 (first)
1953 (US)[2]
Publication placeUnited Kingdom
Media typePrint (hardcover)
Pages159pp (first); 180pp (US)[2]
OCLC7557055
LC ClassPZ7.N8248 Bd 1952[2]
Followed byThe Borrowers Afield 

The Borrowers is a children's fantasy novel by the English author Mary Norton, published by Dent in 1952. It features a family of tiny people who live secretly in the walls and floors of an English house and "borrow" from the big people in order to survive. The Borrowers also refers to the series of five novels including The Borrowers and four sequels that feature the same family after they leave "their" house.[1]

The Borrowers won the 1952 Carnegie Medal from the Library Association, recognising the year's outstanding children's book by a British author.[3] In the 70th anniversary celebration of the medal in 2007, it was named one of the top ten Medal-winning works, selected by a panel to compose the ballot for a public election of the all-time favourite.[4]

Harcourt, Brace and Company published it in the U.S. in 1953 with illustrations by Beth and Joe Krush.[1][2] It was also published in four parts, with illustrations by Erik Blegvad, during the summer of 1953 (June, July, August, September) in Woman's Day magazine. There have been several adaptations of The Borrowers in television and film.

  1. ^ a b c Cite error: The named reference isfdb-series was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ a b c d e f "The borrowers". Library of Congress Catalog Record.
    "The borrowers" (first U.S. edition). LCC record. Retrieved 2012-09-08.
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference medal1952 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference topten was invoked but never defined (see the help page).