With great sadness, we inform you that celebrated British children's book author Brian Jacques passed away on February 5. Aged 71, he is survived by a wife and two grown children.

Jacques, the New York Times bestselling author of the acclaimed Redwall series, was published in 20-plus countries. The 22nd and last Redwall book, The Rogue Crew, will appear in May from Philomel, an imprint of the Penguin Young Readers Group.

Philomel president Michael Green said: “For almost 25 years, Brian lived up to the label of ‘master storyteller.’ His Redwall novels touched multi-generations within families and gave them something to share.... Initially, he wrote Redwall to entertain the children at Liverpool's Royal Wavertree School for the Blind, where he would read aloud, giving voice to the many accents, giving aroma and flavor to the famous Redwall Abbey feasts, and giving life to a world in which mice and hares were heroes. The world has lost a talented author, gifted entertainer and champion of children.”

Penguin Books
New York, U.S.

(February 11, 2011)


Brian Jacques:
'master storyteller'.

ARCHIVES