Biography of Philip Pullman
Born in England in 1946, Pullman was educated in some of the best schools throughout England, Australia and Zimbabwe. He attended Exeter College and a few years later entered the teaching field. After teaching middle school, Pullman accepted a position at Oxford University and taught courses in education.In addition to writing, Pullman enjoys other hobbies. On his Web site he writes, “When I'm not writing books I like to draw and to make things out of wood. I also like to play the piano. I'd like to play it well, but I can't, so the rest of the family has to put up with my playing it badly."
Pullman's Writing Career
Pullman wrote his first children’s book, Count Karlstein, in 1982. In 1985, he found success with his Victorian thriller mysteries starring a sixteen-year-old sleuth named Sally Lockhart. The first book of mysteries is The Ruby in the Smoke.While Pullman is primarily known for his fantasy work in His Dark Materials, he’s also written realistic fiction, historical fiction, mystery thrillers, plays, picture books, and many, many speeches. Of all his books, Pullman writes that his favorite series is the New Cut Gang, two books about a gang of street urchins who encounter all sorts of trouble in London, 1892.
Books by Philip Pullman
While many of his books are written for children and teens, adults also enjoy Pullman’s varied and scholarly narratives.
His Dark Materials Trilogy
Sally Lockhart Quartet
The New Cut Gang
From Book to Film and Stage…
Northern Lights, the first book in His Dark Materials trilogy, was made into a movie in the United States and, like the book, was renamed The Golden Compass. Additionally, a stage production of the trilogy is currently touring the United Kingdom. One of Pullman’s earlier workers, a fairy tale called "The Fire-Maker’s Daughter" was also adapted into a play.Pullman: An Advocate for Libraries and Education
Besides being a writer and illustrator, Philip Pullman actively speaks out against closing public libraries in England. Along with other notable British celebrities, Pullman protested against the closure of six libraries in the Northwest part of London. Although they lost the court appeal, it’s likely that the group will take their protest to a higher court.As a former educator, Pullman also has strong feelings regarding testing in schools. On his Web site he writes, “My main concern is that an over-emphasis on testing and league tables has led to a lack of time and freedom for a true, imaginative and humane engagement with literature.”
Pullman: Atheism and Challenges to the His Dark Materials Trilogy
Philip Pullman does not shy away from discussions about religion or his atheistic beliefs. When asked about his views on God Pullman responded, “I can see no evidence in that circle of things I do know, in history, or in science or anywhere else, no evidence of the existence of God. So I'm caught between the words 'atheistic' and 'agnostic'. I've got no evidence whatever for believing in a God. But I know that all the things I do know are very small compared with the things that I don't know. (Source: Surefish Author Interview November 2002)Pullman’s bold views on religion have made his popular trilogy His Dark Materials a target for controversy and debate. Many religious groups have called for boycotts of Pullman’s trilogy and the movie based on the first book, The Golden Compass. What is Pullman’s reaction to this: "It's a foolish thing for the teller of a story to answer critics. If you're putting forward an argument, you can argue back and demonstrate why your argument is better than theirs. But if someone doesn't like a story you've written, what are you going to say? 'Well, you should'?" (Source: More Intelligent Life Author Interview 12/3/07)
The American Library Association lists Pullman’s trilogy as one of the most frequently challenged books of 2008, with numerous challenges for, among other things, its “anti-Christian” message. When contacted about the challenges by a UK reporter, Pullman said, "Of course it's a worry when anybody takes it upon themselves to dictate what people should or should not read. The power of organised religion is very strong in the US, and getting stronger because of the internet." (Source: Guardian article, 9/30/09).
When asked by a young fan, "How do you respond to the claim that your books are anti-Catholic and promote atheism?" Pullman replied, in part, "In the world of the story — Lyra’s world — there is a church that has acquired great political power, rather in the way that some religions in our world have done at various times, and still do (think of the Taliban in Afghanistan). My point is that religion is at its best — it does most good — when it is farthest away from political power, and that when it gets hold of the power to (for example) send armies to war or to condemn people to death, or to rule every aspect of our lives, it rapidly goes bad." (Source: MSNBC Today video and article: Pullman not promoting atheism in ‘Golden Compass’)
When another young fan asked if there were an underlying atheism message in his trilogy Pullman replied, “As for the atheism, it doesn’t matter to me whether people believe in God or not, so I’m not promoting anything of that sort...Good things have been done in the name of religion, and so have bad things; and both good things and bad things have been done with no religion at all. What I care about is the good, wherever it comes from.” (Source: MSNBC Today 11/2/2007)
How Do You Feel About Philip Pullman's Books and Censorship?
Have you or your teens read The Golden Compass (titled Northern Lights in the UK) or the entire His Dark Materials trilogy? If so, tell me what you think about Pullman's book(s) by posting a comment at Readers Respond. Would you ever challenge a children's book? Let me know by posting a comment.(Sources: Except where another source is noted, the quotations and information for this article came from Philip Pullman's official Web site)
