for those who may be expected to enjoy fine style, original and provocative ideas and rich characters."
Though he has written for children--most notably his Hob stories--Mayne is best known as a novelist for young adults. His books often contain elements of fantasy (A Game of Dark, It), involve some type of treasure hunt (Follow the Footprints, A Grass Rope, and many others), or are about time travel (Earthfasts, The Hill Road), but Mayne is by no means limited to these subjects, having also written historical novels (Drift) and books that focus on family relationships (Gideon Ahoy!). What makes all these stories distinctly his is the author's love of language and his demand that the reader expend some effort in order to discover the meaning behind his words. He is also noted for his willingness to experiment with plots, characters, and narrative style. Mayne's "refusal to use stock situations and stereotyped characters is part of his excellence," according to one Times Literary Supplement writer. "He can be intricate and, indeed, downright obscure, but he is incapable of being commonplace."
Train Ticket to Authorship
Mayne's fascination with words was what inspired him to choose his career. One day in 1936, while he was riding a bus, his life changed when he read his ticket and something wonderful happened.
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