T. A. Barron
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T. A. Barron | |
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 Barron in 2008 | |
| Born | Thomas A. Barron March 26, 1952 Boston, MA |
| Occupation | Novelist |
| Language | English |
| Nationality | United States |
| Alma mater | Princeton University Harvard University |
| Genre | Fantasy, self help, science fiction |
| Notable works |
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| Website | |
| tabarron | |
Thomas Archibald Barron (born March 26, 1952) is an American writer of fantasy literature, books for children and young adults, and nature books.
Biography
Barron [1] spent his early childhood in Harvard, Massachusetts, a town full of New England history and apple orchards. His family moved to Colorado and he spent much of his youth on a ranch in the Rocky Mountains. Barron's writing reflects his great passion for nature and the spiritual values of the natural world, as well as his belief in the power of every person.
He studied history at Princeton University, where he was a Trustee,[2] attended Oxford University on a Rhodes scholarship, and has business and law degrees from Harvard University. He served as president of a private equity firm in New York City before changing careers in 1990, when he returned to Colorado to become a full-time writer and conservationist.
Since then, he has written more than thirty novels, children's books, non-fiction books, and nature books. In 2011, he received The de Grummond Medallion for "lifetime contribution to the field of children's and young adult literature."[3] He has also won the Nautilus Award Grand Prize, and many other literary awards.
He is actively involved with environmental and conservation organizations, including the Wilderness Society, Earthjustice, Wildlife Conservation Society, the Alaska Conservation Foundation, and Colorado Open Lands.
In 2000, he founded a national prize to celebrate outstanding young people, who help other people, or the environment—the Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes (named after his mother). He has produced a documentary film, “Dream Big”, as well as several highly acclaimed videos that honor extraordinary young people of diverse backgrounds for his Inspiring Young Heroes website. He won a Telly Award in 2020 for excellence in video production in the Social Impact category.
Barron also helped to create the High Meadows Environmental Institute at Princeton University. Recently, the Wilderness Society honored him with the Robert Marshall Award, its highest award given to citizens active in conservation.
Writer
In many of his novels, Barron writes about nature and ecology in mythical settings. Inspired by nature's power of renewal as well as humanity's power of free choice, he says, "I truly believe every person can make a difference — that's why I'm drawn to heroic quest stories." [1]. His books have received the Nautilus Award Grand Prize for literature that helps to renew the spirit and envision a better world, as well as many other awards from the American Library Association, and the International Literacy Association. The Merlin Saga (twelve titles) and the novel The Ancient One have been international best sellers; The Great Tree of Avalon trilogy has been a New York Times best seller.
According to Booklist, his books are "completely magical" and "will enchant readers." The New York Times has called his work "august" and "compelling". Fellow author Isabel Allende has said his writing is "brilliant—a real gift"; similarly, author Madeleine L'Engle called his stories "a crescendo of miracles." Fellow writer Terry Tempest Williams has hailed him as the creator of "environmental fables for our time." Robert Coles, M.D. has praised his work by saying, "Here is so much grace." And writer Lloyd Alexander called his books "an intense and profoundly spiritual adventure."
Adaptations
Disney film studios is currently developing a film adaptation of the Merlin Saga. In November 2015, Philippa Boyens was hired to write the script.[4] On January 4, 2018, it was reported that Ridley Scott is in talks of directing it.[5]
Works
Adventures of Kate Books
- The Heartlight Saga (Combined edition) (2013)
- Heartlight (1990) (Illustrated by Anne Yvonne Gilbert in 2003)
- The Ancient One (1992) (Illustrated by Anne Yvonne Gilbert in 2004)
- The Merlin Effect (1994)
The Atlantis Saga
- Atlantis Rising (2013)
- Atlantis in Peril (2015)
- Atlantis Lost (2016)
- Never Again: The Origins of Grukkar (eBook)
The Merlin Saga
The Merlin Saga (2011) is a 12-book series originally sold as three separate series: The Lost Years of Merlin epic, Merlin's Dragon trilogy, and The Great Tree of Avalon trilogy. The twelfth book in the series is The Book of Magic, an encyclopedia of the characters and places in the series.
- Merlin Book 1: The Lost Years; originally issued as The Lost Years of Merlin (1996)
- Merlin Book 2: The Seven Songs; originally issued as The Seven Songs of Merlin (1997)
- Merlin Book 3: The Raging Fires; originally issued as The Fires of Merlin (1998)
- Merlin Book 4: The Mirror of Fate; originally issued as The Mirror of Merlin (1999)
- Merlin Book 5: A Wizard's Wings; originally issued as The Wings of Merlin (2000)
- Merlin's Dragon Trilogy
- Merlin Book 6: The Dragon of Avalon; originally issued as Merlin's Dragon (2008)
- Merlin Book 7: Doomraga's Revenge (2009)
- Merlin Book 8: Ultimate Magic (2010)
- The Great Tree of Avalon Trilogy
- Merlin Book 9: The Great Tree of Avalon; originally issued as Child of the Dark Prophecy (2004)
- Merlin Book 10: Shadows on the Stars (2005)
- Merlin Book 11: The Eternal Flame (2007)
- The Book of Magic
- Merlin Book 12: Merlin: The Book of Magic (2011), companion to the Merlin Saga
Other fiction books
- Tree Girl (2001)
- Ben Barron: How the Boy Became King of Shadows
Picture books
- Where is Grandpa? (1999)
- High as a Hawk (2004)
- The Day the Stones Walked (2007)
- Ghost Hands (2011)
Books to Inspire (Nonfiction)
- The Hero's Trail: True Stories of Young People to Inspire Courage, Compassion, and Hope (2015)[6]
- The Wisdom of Merlin (2015)
Nature books
- To Walk In Wilderness (1993)
- Rocky Mountain National Park: A 100 Year Perspective (1995)
References
- ^ T. A. Barron at the Internet Speculative Fiction Database (ISFDB). Retrieved 2013-06-29. Select a title to see its linked publication history and general information. Select a particular edition (title) for more data at that level, such as a front cover image or linked contents.
- ^ "Board of Trustees, 2012–13". Vice President & Secretary. Princeton University. Retrieved 2013-06-28.
- ^ "The 43rd Annual Fay B. Kaigler Children's Book Festival" (2011 program). School of Library and Information Science. The University of Southern Mississippi. Retrieved 2013-06-29. Pages 1–3 cover the Southern Miss Medallion and its 2011 recipient T. A. Barron.
- ^ Fleming Jr, Mike (November 17, 2015). "Disney Sets 'Lord Of The Rings' Co-Writer Philippa Boyens To Write Young Merlin Movie". deadline.com. Retrieved November 29, 2015.
- ^ Kroll, Justin (January 4, 2018). "Ridley Scott in Talks to Direct 'Merlin Saga' Adaptation at Disney (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved January 5, 2018.
- ^ "The Hero's Trail". T. A. Barron. Retrieved 2013-06-29.
- ^ "T. A. Barron Author Documentary
- ^ "NRDC Artists and Visionaries Interview
- ^ "Jane Goodall on the Barron Prize for Young Heroes
- ^ "Jane Goodall on T. A. Barron's Books
- ^ "It's Only Natural: T.A. Barron follows his passion on a literary quest", Interview by Linda Castellitto
- ^ "T. A. Barron receives the de Grummond Medallion
- ^ "Here is a recent piece from The Hollywood Reporter
- ^ "Another piece from CG Life
External links
- Official website
- What Matters Most with T.A. Barron - Part 1 and Part 2 (May 2015), Stanford Graduate School of Business
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Artists | |
| People | |
| Other | |
- 1952 births
- Living people
- 20th-century American novelists
- 20th-century American male writers
- 21st-century American novelists
- American children's writers
- American conservationists
- American fantasy writers
- American male novelists
- American nature writers
- American non-fiction outdoors writers
- Harvard Law School alumni
- Princeton University alumni
- American Rhodes Scholars
- People from Harvard, Massachusetts
- 21st-century American male writers
- 20th-century American non-fiction writers
- 21st-century American non-fiction writers
- American male non-fiction writers
- Writers of modern Arthurian fiction