Geoffrey Trease

Robert Geoffrey Trease (born August 11, 1909 in Nottingham , England , † January 27, 1998 in Bath ) was an English writer. Between 1934 and 1997 he published a total of 113 books, mostly historical novels for children. His works have been translated into 20 languages.

Life

Geoffrey Trease came from a family of wine merchants. Already in his school days he wrote stories, poems and a play in three acts that was performed at school. He received a scholarship from Oxford University and began studying in 1928. Although he loved university life, he found the classes boring. After a year he moved from Oxford to London with the intention of becoming a famous writer. He began to implement this plan by writing the children's book Arrows Against Barons (original title: Bows against the Barons ) in 1934 . This was the first of his many historical novels.

Geoffrey Trease is particularly known for historical novels for children, which reflect his claim to historical correctness and his precise research. He was a pioneer of the idea that children's literature should be a serious subject for literary study. Early in his career, his radical views represented a departure from the traditional tone of jingoism that was typical of most English children's books of the time. As an author, he specifically tried to address girls and boys equally and used strong characters from both sexes.

Through exciting storylines, he introduced his readers to historical contexts and enabled them to understand the story without any effort. Justice and equality are a topic of many of his books.

His works take place in ancient Greece , in the Middle Ages , at the time of the French Revolution and during the Second World War and other events of the 20th century. He wrote modern school stories, novels for adults, history books, radio plays, television scripts and biographies. He wrote three autobiographical books: A Whiff of Burnt Boats (1971), Laughter at the Door (1974), and in the last year of his life, Farewell the Hills for his family and friends . He lived in Colwall, Herefordshire , during the last years of his life and died at the age of 88.

Works (selection)

• Comrades for the Charter (1934), A cart pulled through England , transl. Arthur West & Edith West, Globus Verlag 1951
  • revised New edition Conspiracy against hunger or Owen, Tom and the traveling doctor , translator Dietlof Reiche, Ill. David Fried, Alibaba Verlag 1984
• Bows against the Barons (1934), Arrows against Barons , transl. Willi Schulz, Ill. Heinrich Vogeler, commentary on Georg Eisler
  • revised New edition Robin Hood: Arrows against Barons , Alibaba Verlag 1985
• Cue for Treason (1940)
• Hills of Varna (1948), Journey to Varna , transl. Hanns Schumacher
• No Boats on Bannermere (1949)
• Crown of Violet (1952), Crown of Athens , transl. Hanns Schumacher
• Word to Caesar (1956), message to Hadrian , translator Hanns Schumacher
• Maythorn Story (1960), Tom's Treasure Island , Boje Verlag 1961
• Thunder of Valmy (1960), Donner von Valmy , translator Hanns Schumacher
• Follow my Black Plume (1963), Follows the black spring , transl. Hanns Schumacher
• Condottieri (1970), The Condottieri: mercenary leaders, soldiers of fortune and princes of the Renaissance , Callwey Verlag 1974
• Red Towers of Granada (1972), The golden elixir , transl. Abraham Teuter
• Iron Tsar (1975), Der eiserne Zar , transl. Siegfried Schmitz, Boje 1977
• Hidden Treasure: Time Detectives (1989), On the Trail of Hidden Treasures , Ill.Chris Molan, Arena Verlag 1991
• Secret Fiord (?), The secret fjord: the adventures of Roger and Jillian in search of their missing father , translator Helene Henze, Ill. Hermann Schelbert
• Thousand for Sicily (?), Freedom for Sicily , translator Hanns Schumacher
• The Silken Secret , The man with the silk cord , translator Adolf Hechelmann, Alsatia publishing house 1958

Web links

• Literature by and about Geoffrey Trease in the catalog of the German National Library
• Biography (English)