Biographical Sketch

Philip Pullman was born in Norwich in 1946, and educated at Ysgol Ardudwy, Harlech, Gwynedd, then at Oxford University.

Having taught at middle school level for several years, he worked from 1988-96 as a part-time Senior Lecturer in English at Westminster College, Oxford, teaching courses in The Victorian Novel, The Traditional Tale, and Creative Writing.

He has written and lectured widely on various aspects of the relationship between text and images. He is a member of the Board of Trustees of the Centre for the Children's Book and was a member of the judging panel for the Guardian Children's Book Award for 1994 and 1996, and also of the panel of judges for the Betty Trask Award, 1997.

The quality of Pullman's work has been recognized in the following Awards:

• The Ruby in the Smoke won the International Reading Association Children's Book Award; the Preis der Leseratten, German TV and the Lancashire Libraries Children's Book Award, all in 1988
• Shadow in the North was shortlisted for the Edgar Allan Poe Award by the Mystery Writers of America
• The Tiger in the Well was shortlisted for Guardian Children's Book Award in 1992
• Northern Lights won the Guardian Children's Fiction Award, the Carnegie Medal, and was selected as Children's Book of the Year in the British Book Awards, all in 1996
• The Firework-Maker's Daughter won the Smarties Gold Award, also in 1996
• Clockwork won the Smarties Silver Award, was shortlisted for Whitbread Children's Book of the Year, and also for the Carnegie Medal, all in 1997.

He and his wife, Jude, have two sons: Jamie, a professional viola player; and Tom, who is still at school.