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John Marsden (writer)

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John Marsden
Born(1950-09-27)27 September 1950
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
DiedDecember 2024(2024-12-00) (aged 74)
OccupationWriter, teacher
Period1987–2021
GenreYoung adult fiction

John Marsden (27 September 1950 – December 2024) was an Australian writer and alternative school principal. He wrote more than 40 books in his career and his books have been translated into many languages. He is especially known for his young adult novel Tomorrow, When the War Began, which began a series of seven books.

Marsden began writing for children while working as a teacher, and had his first book, So Much to Tell You, published in 1987. In 2006, he started an alternative school, Candlebark School, and reduced his writing to focus on teaching and running the school. In 2016, he opened the arts-focused secondary school, Alice Miller School. Both schools are in the Macedon Ranges.

Early life and education

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John Marsden was born on 27 September 1950 in Melbourne, Victoria.[1][2] He had three siblings.[2] He spent the first 10 years of his life living in the country towns of Kyneton, Victoria, and Devonport, Tasmania.[3] He was a great-great-great-great nephew of colonial Anglican clergyman and magistrate Rev. Samuel Marsden.[3]

When Marsden was 10 years old, he moved to Sydney and attended The King's School, Parramatta.[3] He was accepted into Sydney University to study a double degree in law and arts,[3] but eventually dropped out. He worked at different jobs, including an abattoir, working in a mortuary, delivering pizzas, working as a motorbike courier, working as a nightwatchman, selling encyclopaedias, and working with chickens.[4]

Writing career

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Early career

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While working at Geelong Grammar School's Timbertop campus as an English teacher, Marsden made the decision to write for teenagers, following his dissatisfaction with his students' apathy towards reading,[3] or the observation that teenagers simply were not reading anymore.[4] Marsden then wrote So Much to Tell You in only three weeks, and the book was published in 1987.[3] The book sold record numbers and won numerous awards including "Book of the Year" as awarded by the Children's Book Council of Australia (CBCA).[5][6][7][8]

In the five years following the publication of So Much To Tell You, Marsden published six more books. Notable works from this period are Out of Time, which was nominated by the CBCA as a notable book for older readers, and Letters From the Inside and a sequel to So Much to Tell You called Take My Word For It, which were both shortlisted for the CBCA's Children's Book of the Year: Older Readers award.[8][9] Upon publication in the United States, Letters From the Inside received accolades from The Horn Book Magazine and the American Library Association.[10] American novelist Robert Cormier found the novel "unforgettable" and described Marsden as a "major writer deserving of world-wide acclaim".[11]

Later career

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Further information: Tomorrow series § Reception

In 1993, Marsden published Tomorrow, When the War Began, the first book in the Tomorrow series and his most acclaimed and best-selling work. Marsden went on to write seven books in the Tomorrow series, together with a follow-up trilogy, The Ellie Chronicles, despite originally intending the series to only consist of a trilogy.

At the same time as writing the Tomorrow series, Marsden wrote several other novels such as Checkers, edited works such as This I Believe, wrote children's picture books such as The Rabbits, poetry such as Prayer for the Twenty-First Century, and non-fiction works such as Everything I Know About Writing and Secret Men's Business.[2] He wrote more than 40 books in his career.[12]

Themes

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Marsden's earlier works are largely novels aimed at teenage or young adult audience.[2] Common themes in Marsden's works include sexuality, violence in society, survival at school and in a harsh world, and conflict with adult authority figures.[2] However, Marsden also declared that he wished to write about "things that have always been important for humans... [such as] love, for a start. And the absence of love. The way people relate to each other. The way people solve problems. Courage. Spirit. The human spirit."[4]

Recognition and accolades

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In 1996, Marsden's books took the top six places on the Teenage Fiction best-seller lists for Australia.[2] Also in 1996, he was named "Australia's most popular author today in any literary field" by The Australian.[2] In 1997, Australian readers voted three of his books into Australia's 100 most-loved books of all time.[2] His books have also been translated into many languages.[13][3]

Marsden won every major writing award in Australia for young people's fiction,[14] including what he described as one of the highlights of his career,[15] the 2006 Lloyd O'Neil Award for contributions to Australian publishing.[16] This award means that Marsden is one of only five authors to be honoured for lifelong services to the Australian book industry.[17]

He was twice named among Best Books of the Year by the American Library Association and once by Publishers Weekly, has been runner-up for Dutch Children's Book of the Year and short-listed for the German Young Readers' Award, won the Grand Jury Prize as Austria's Most Popular Writer for Teenagers, and won the coveted Buxtehude Bull in Germany.[18][14]

In 2008 he was nominated for the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award, the world's largest children's and youth literature award and the second largest literature prize in the world.[17]

In 2014, Lyndon Terracini announced that Opera Australia had co-commissioned Kate Miller-Heidke to write an opera based on Marsden's The Rabbits.[19] The work, The Rabbits, premiered in 2015 in Perth, and was staged in Melbourne, Sydney, and Brisbane, winning several awards.[citation needed]

In December 2018, Marsden was awarded the Dromkeen Medal, in recognition of his outstanding achievement in children's and young adult literature.[20]

Schools

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In 2006, Marsden started an alternative school, Candlebark School, catering for years R-12, in the Macedon Ranges.[21][2] He reduced his writing to focus on teaching and running the school. In 2016, he opened the arts-focused secondary school, Alice Miller School, also in the Macedon Ranges.[22][2]

Personal life, death and legacy

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Marsden was married to Kristin, and had six stepsons.[23] He died in December 2024, at the age of 74.[24] Alice Miller School wrote a letter to parents, stating that he had died while writing at his desk at home.[23]

Marsden was patron of Express Media, a youth arts organisation, which has awarded the annual John Marsden Prize for Young Australian Writers since 2005.[2]

Published works

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Tomorrow series

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Title Year Notes
Tomorrow, When the War Began 1993
The Dead of Night 1994
The Third Day, The Frost 1995
Darkness, Be My Friend 1996
Burning for Revenge 1997
The Night is for Hunting 1998
The Other Side of Dawn 1999
The Ellie Chronicles
While I Live 2003
Incurable 2005
Circle of Flight 2006

Other works

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Title Year Notes
So Much to Tell You 1987
The Journey 1988
The Great Gatenby 1989
Staying Alive in Year 5 1990
Out of Time 1990
Letters from the Inside 1991
Take My Word for It 1992
Looking for Trouble 1993
Everything I Know About Writing 1993
Cool School 1996
  • Winner, KOALA (Kids Own Australian Literature Awards) 1998[25][44]
Creep Street 1996
Checkers 1996
This I Believe 1996
For Weddings and a Funeral 1996
  • Editor
Dear Miffy 1997
Prayer for the Twenty-First Century 1997
Norton's Hut 1998
The Rabbits 1998
Secret Men's Business 1998
Winter 2000
Marsden on Marsden 2000
The Head Book 2001
Millie 2002
The Magic Rainforest 2002
A Day in the Life of Me 2002
  • Illustrated by Craig Smith
The Boy You Brought Home 2002
A Roomful of Magic 2004
  • Illustrated by Mark Jackson and Heather Potter
I Believe This 2004
Hamlet: A Novel 2008
Home and Away 2008
South of Darkness 2014
The Art of Growing Up 2019
Take Risks 2021

References

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  1. ^ Hiebert Alton, Anne, ed. (2023). "John Marsden: (27 September 1950- )". Dictionary of Literary Biography: Young Adult Novelists. Dictionary of Literary Biography. Vol. 391. Entry by Mark Macleod (2nd ed.). Farmington Hills, Michigan: Gale. pp. 156–167. ISBN 9780028672373.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Marsden, John". AustLit. 17 September 2019.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g "John Marsden – Biography" (PDF). John Marsden Official Site. Retrieved 19 October 2010.
  4. ^ a b c "John Marsden". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 4 November 2004. Archived from the original on 18 February 2010. Retrieved 21 October 2010.
  5. ^ a b "Winners and Commended Books 1980 – 1989". The Children's Book Council of Australia. Archived from the original on 16 December 2014. Retrieved 20 October 2010.
  6. ^ a b c "John Marsden – So Much To Tell You". Audio Books Direct. Archived from the original on 7 March 2011. Retrieved 20 October 2010.
  7. ^ a b c d e f So Much To Tell You by John Marsden. Retrieved 20 October 2010. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
  8. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q "Authors and Illustrators – M". CMIS. Archived from the original on 7 April 2011. Retrieved 20 October 2010.
  9. ^ a b c d "Winners and Shortlists 1990 – 1999 – CBCA". The Children's Book Council of Australia. Archived from the original on 27 December 2013. Retrieved 20 October 2010.
  10. ^ a b c Letters From The Inside by John Marsden. Retrieved 20 October 2010. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
  11. ^ Cromier, Robert. "Letters from the Inside". Amazon. Retrieved 7 July 2012.
  12. ^ Antrobus, Blake (18 December 2024). "John Marsden, beloved Aussie author of best-selling Tomorrow book series, dies aged 74". News.com.au. Retrieved 18 December 2024.
  13. ^ "So Much to Tell You (John Marsden, summary)". ulike.net. Archived from the original on 22 February 2013. Retrieved 21 October 2010.
  14. ^ a b "John Marsden – Griffith REVIEW". Griffith Review: A quarterly of writing and ideas. Archived from the original on 5 March 2010. Retrieved 19 October 2010.
  15. ^ "Get Ahead Kids: John Marsden Interview". Get Ahead Kids. 2009. Archived from the original on 1 September 2010. Retrieved 19 October 2010.
  16. ^ "John Marsden – Interview". The Blurb: A Source for Australian Arts and Entertainment. Archived from the original on 30 November 2010. Retrieved 19 October 2010.
  17. ^ a b "John Marsden". Saxton Speakers Bureau. Retrieved 20 October 2010.
  18. ^ "John Marsden Biography". Pan Macmillan Australia. Archived from the original on 25 February 2011. Retrieved 19 October 2010.
  19. ^ "Rabbits let loose as Opera Australia's Lyndon Terracini opts for high drama" by Matthew Westwood, The Australian, 12 August 2014
  20. ^ "Dromkeen Medal". State Library Victoria. Archived from the original on 12 March 2018. Retrieved 13 December 2018.
  21. ^ Bedford, Kathy (17 September 2007). "'Simple philosophy' guides Marsden's school". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 21 October 2010.
  22. ^ Romensky, Larissa (1 February 2016). "Author John Marsden opens second school". Australia: ABC News. Retrieved 15 November 2019.
  23. ^ a b Cain, Sian (18 December 2024). "John Marsden, author of Tomorrow, When the War Began, dies aged 74". The Guardian. Retrieved 18 December 2024.
  24. ^ "Australian writer John Marsden, author of Tomorrow series, dies aged 74". ABC News. 18 December 2024. Retrieved 18 December 2024.
  25. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u "Marsden, John 1950–". Contemporary Authors. New Revision Series. 1 January 2004. Archived from the original on 5 November 2012. Retrieved 20 October 2010.
  26. ^ a b c d e f g Tomorrow When The War Began by John Marsden. Retrieved 20 October 2010. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
  27. ^ "ALA 1996 Best Books for Young Adults". Young Adult Library Services Association. 1996. Archived from the original on 17 March 2010. Retrieved 21 October 2010.
  28. ^ "American Library Association's 100 Best Books for Teens". Archived from the original on 12 June 2010. Retrieved 20 October 2010.
  29. ^ "ALA 1998 Popular Paperbacks for Young Adults". Young Adult Library Services Association. 1998. Archived from the original on 6 December 2008. Retrieved 21 October 2010.
  30. ^ "ALA Nominations". American Library Association Young Adult Library Services Association. 18 October 2010. Archived from the original on 17 January 2011. Retrieved 21 October 2010.
  31. ^ "Australian Children's Choice Awards". CMIS. Archived from the original on 22 October 2010. Retrieved 20 October 2010.
  32. ^ "Tomorrow When The War Began". Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Archived from the original on 27 July 2011. Retrieved 20 October 2010.
  33. ^ The Dead of the Night by John Marsden. Retrieved 16 April 2024. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
  34. ^ "The Books Tomorrow-Movies – The No. 1 Fansite for John Marsden's 'Tomorrow, When The War Began', the Tomorrow Series and the upcoming Tomorrow Movies". Archived from the original on 9 October 2010. Retrieved 20 October 2010.
  35. ^ ""Buxtehude Bull – Winners"". Buxtehude Bull. Retrieved 20 July 2024.
  36. ^ The Third Day, The Frost by John Marsden. Retrieved 20 October 2010. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
  37. ^ "The Nielsen BookData Booksellers' Choice Award – Australian Booksellers Association". booksellers.org.au. Archived from the original on 24 July 2019. Retrieved 7 August 2019.
  38. ^ The Night is for Hunting (The Tomorrow Series #6) by John Marsden. Retrieved 20 October 2010. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
  39. ^ a b "TripAtlas – About Tomorrow Series". TripAtlas. Retrieved 20 October 2010.[permanent dead link‍]
  40. ^ "notables04pb". The Children's Book Council of Australia. Archived from the original on 25 August 2010. Retrieved 20 October 2010.
  41. ^ "Victorian Premier's Award". La Trobe University: Children's and Young Adult Literature. Retrieved 20 October 2010.
  42. ^ "Christopher Awards – Books for Young People". Children's Literature Web Guide. Retrieved 20 October 2010.
  43. ^ "ALA 1999 Popular Paperbacks for Young Adults". American Library Association Young Adult Library Services Association. 1999. Archived from the original on 5 June 2011. Retrieved 21 October 2010.
  44. ^ a b "Koala Book Awards". Library Thing. Retrieved 20 October 2010.
  45. ^ "ALA 2002 Popular Paperbacks for Young Adults". American Library Association Young Adult Library Services Association. 2002. Archived from the original on 14 February 2011. Retrieved 21 October 2010.
  46. ^ John Marsden, ed. (1996). This I Believe. Random House Australia. ISBN 978-0091831127. OCLC 38389492.
  47. ^ "notables03pb". The Children's Book Council of Australia. Archived from the original on 19 February 2011. Retrieved 20 October 2010.
  48. ^ John Marsden, ed. (2004). I Believe This. Random House Australia. ISBN 9781740513623. OCLC 224076448.
  49. ^ "Winners 2009 – CBCA". The Children's Book Council of Australia. Archived from the original on 5 January 2010. Retrieved 20 October 2010.
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