A prolific writer of novels, short fiction, and nonfiction for adults as well as novels, stories, and poetry for children, Rumer Godden conveys in her works the plight and triumph of children separated from their parents, the difficulty of adjusting to new cultures and situations, the need for love and belonging, the importance of place and a stable home life, and the power and responsibility of the individual--adult, child, or animal--to solve problems and overcome obstacles. Her works for children include realistic fiction, doll stories, animal stories, ballet stories, and retellings of folktales. Her biographies of Hans Christian Andersen and Beatrix Potter, as well as various essays and speeches on the art of writing, emphasize the discipline involved in the production of exceptional children's literature.

Margaret Rumer Godden was born in Eastbourne, Sussex, on 10 December 1907, the second of four daughters. Her father, Arthur Leigh Godden, was a steamer...