Eleanor Farjon is an English storyteller and children's poetess, who at one time became known to Russian readers thanks to Nina Demurova and Olga Warsaver. They made a translation of her two tales: “I want the moon” and “The Seventh Princess”. Thus, Soviet editions of the works of Elinor appeared. Despite the fact that this true Englishwoman was recognized as a children's writer, often her works become very interesting for adults to read.
Elinor Farjon, whose fairy tales were not only loved by her compatriots, but also managed to find her devoted readers all over the world, also wrote children's poems. In many ways, the secret of her success was that she filled all her works with a special authorial philosophy.
Elinor Fargeon: biography and family
This woman was an Englishwoman by nationality. She was born in February 1881. Most likely, she was destined to become a great writer, because in her family the cult of the book existed from the very beginning.
All of her closest relatives were creative people. Father - Benjamin Fargeon, was a popular English novelist. Margaret Fargeon - the daughter of the famous American actor Joseph Jefferson, was the mother of the girl.
Parents instilled good taste and love for books and music to children from childhood. The house was constantly played music, readings and literary evenings were held. In addition to Elinor Farjon, three more sons grew up in the family. At home, it was customary to call her daughter Nellie, and everyone loved her very much, since she was one girl among the boys.
Received education
Eleanor Farjon as a child was a weak child and often sick. Since her father believed that each person should be engaged in their own self-development and education, it was decided that the girl would study at home.
The creative atmosphere that surrounded little Elinor everywhere clearly contributed to the fact that she began to write her first works very early.
The beginning of creativity
The first works of Eleanor Farjon were poems and fairy tales. Also, the girl liked to engage in retelling of ancient Greek myths and various biblical subjects. Elinor must have typed all her works on a typewriter, since she knew how to do this from childhood, and also herself proofread her work.
Literature and writing always brought her sincere pleasure, but soon her talent also became an opportunity to get the material means for life that were needed after the death of her father. Benjamin Farjon died when his daughter was only 22 years old, and at that moment Elinor realized that her works could not only lie at home and delight relatives and friends, but also be published in various publications.
For the first time, children's poems written by a girl were published in 1912 in the famous English magazine Punch. In 1916, her first book was published entitled Children's Songs of Old London. These were poems for children who quickly found their fans.
Years of the First World War
When the war began, the writer was forced to leave London. Farjon moved to a simple small village and lived there like an ordinary peasant woman. She was a sincere person and was able to quickly win over all the neighboring children, many of whom Elinor really became friends with.
These years were quite difficult, and the writer had a difficult time: she independently heated the stove, collected and brought brushwood, worked in the garden. But despite all the difficulties, Eleanor Farjon did not stop writing. After the war ended, she returned to London and one after another began to publish her books.
Fairy tales and poems for children
Many critics believe that poems written by Eleanor represent the foundation of 20th century children's poetry in England. But admiring her innate talent to compose rhymes perfectly, do not forget that Fardzhon coped very well with prose. She is deservedly recognized as one of the best storytellers of the last century.
Her works are really very unusual: on the one hand, they are childishly kind, warm and homely, but on the other hand, they sometimes obey the laws of logic and can cause a feeling of slight fear even among adult readers. Her works can hardly be called banal and typical, because in them the happy ending familiar to most children's fairy tales may not come at all, and a positive character in the course of the development of the plot may turn out to be a notorious villain. The works written by Fardzhon do not fit into any template, which makes their reading even more interesting and entertaining, since even an adult reader cannot guess how the seemingly simple children's fairy tale will end.
Bibliography
Elinor Farjon, whose poems and tales were printed and published a huge number of times, has written more than 60 books in her entire life. Among them, there are several that are especially popular:
- "Nameless flower."
- "I want the moon."
- "Parrots."
- "Young Kate."
- "I shake my baby."
- "The Seventh Princess."
- "Martin Pippin in the Apple Orchard."
- "Once, on a wonderful day".
- "Wonders. Herodotus. "
- "Ariadne and the bull."
- "Crystal shoe".
- "Nuts and May."
- "Kings and Queens."
- "Soul Kol Nikon."
World Recognition and Writer Awards
Fargejon received her first official award in 1955. For her children's works, Elinor was awarded the Carnegie Medal. Literally a year later, in 1956, the UNESCO International Council, which dealt with issues of youth and children's literature, decided to make the writer the first laureate of a literary prize to them. G.K. Andersen.
She received it for a collection of her delightful tales called "The Small Library." It is very difficult to overestimate the value of the award, because among writers it is equated with the Nobel Prize. At the same time, Farjon remained a very simple and modest woman until the end of her days.
Over time, rumors of Elinor's writing talent reached the royal family. Queen Elizabeth II decided to mark the writer as a special privilege - she was granted the noble title. But in the life of Elinor herself, this radically changed nothing.
Until the end of her days, she was very fond of animals, especially cats, and during her life she managed to raise more than 120 kittens. Despite the incredible popularity and recognition around the world, the author of fairy tales, loved by thousands of children, lived very modestly. She loved to do housework, cook and grow flowers deliciously.
This sweet and talented woman died in 1965. She died in England at the age of 84.