Eva Ibbotson, one of the best children’s writers ever, died last Wednesday. One of the things I didn’t know was that she attended Dartington Hall school (I attended Dartington College of Arts, same place, VERY similar ethos) and this was a lovely fact to find out about her. I love finding Dartington in stories (have a look at Michelle Magorian’s Back Home as I suspect it’s the inspiration for Rusty’s school in that book as well).
Some of her books are genuinely outstanding and elegant pieces of fiction . What’s impressive is how effortless they feel. Take the time to pick one up this weekend and salute one of the great dames of children’s literature.
Guardian obituary here , Independent obituary here and Daily Telegraph obituary here.
Daisy May Johnson 