| By
Luci Cummings
Both
adults and children gathered to hear children's authors Philip Pullman
and Ad猫le Geras, and Children's Laureate Michael Morpurgo
discuss their craft. But should they be categorised as children's
authors - or should such distinctions be dispensed with entirely?
Chair Nicolette Jones, Sunday Times children's literature critic
led the discussion.
War,
sex and death are all a part of children's literature today; increasing
numbers of adults are now reading children's fiction and publishers
regularly produce 'adult' covers to encourage the crossover trend.
So why bother to create the division at all?
Michael
Morpurgo, author of the recent novel 'Private Peaceful' (about the
horrors of the First World War) stated that it is the quality of
the work which is important, regardless of the target audience.
He cited Pullman's 'His Dark Materials' trilogy, read by children
and adults alike, as an example of this.
Philip
Pullman blamed publishers for the creation of artificial age boundaries,
stating that the bureaucracy of publishing was the real issue. When
asked whether the complex themes of 'His Dark Materials' were too
difficult for children, he said that children were willing to be
as confused as the main character of the book, until that character
is enlightened.
The
limitations of writing for children were a constant theme during
the debate. The panellists admitted to having little or no thought
of an intended audience while writing. All denied the need for self-censorship
in this context. Morpurgo commented that a tale told passionately
and well should interest all ages. All the panellists seemed to
agree on this point.
The
debate concluded with poignant readings by Morpurgo of 'O What is
That Sound?' by W.H. Auden and 'The Birds Began to Sing' by Janet
Frame. The awed attention of children in the audience was proof
that literature can cross either way over these blurred boundaries.
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