James Brian Jacques (, as in "Jakes"; 15June 19395February 2011<!-- This is not a typo. He died on the 5th, as shown in the obituary which ran on the 7th. -->) was an English author known for his Redwall series of children's fantasy novels and Castaways of the Flying Dutchman series. He also completed two collections of short stories entitled The Ribbajack & Other Curious Yarns and Seven Strange and Ghostly Tales.

Early life

James Brian Jacques was born in Liverpool on 15 June 1939. Jacques' parents were James Alfred Jacques, a truck driver, and Ellen Ryan, both born in Liverpool. His father's family were from Lancashire, his mother's family all had Irish roots. Jacques' maternal grandfather, Matthew Ryan, was from Wexford, Ireland. Jacques was the middle child: he had an older brother, Tony, and a younger brother, James.

Jacques grew up in Kirkdale near to the Liverpool Docks.

In the 1980s, Jacques worked as a milkman, on a round which included the Royal Wavertree School for the Blind. From these short stories and reading sessions emerged Redwall, an 800-page handwritten manuscript.

Redwall

During his time at the Everyman Theatre, Jacques had met and become friends with Alan Durband, an English teacher at C.F. Mott College of Education, a writer, and co-founder of the Everyman. Mariel is based on his granddaughter. Constance the Badgermum is based on his maternal grandmother. Other characters are a combination of many of the people he had met in his travels. Nevertheless, he was deeply touched by his success at reaching children. He was also pleased to be recognized by the people of Liverpool. His novels have sold more than 20 million copies worldwide He died from a heart attack at 71 years old on 5 February 2011.

Recognition

In June 2005, he was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Letters by the University of Liverpool. A prize was created at Bristol Grammar School, known as the 'Brian Jacques Award for Most Improved Creative Writing', and is awarded to a student in Year 8 as book tokens.

Books

Redwall series

  1. Redwall (1986)
  2. Mossflower (1988)
  3. Mattimeo (1989)
  4. Mariel of Redwall (1991)
  5. Salamandastron (1992)
  6. Martin the Warrior (1993)
  7. The Bellmaker (1994)
  8. Outcast of Redwall (1995)
  9. The Pearls of Lutra (1996)
  10. The Long Patrol (1997)
  11. Marlfox (1998)
  12. The Legend of Luke (1999)
  13. Lord Brocktree (2000)
  14. The Taggerung (2001)
  15. Triss (2002)
  16. Loamhedge (2003)
  17. Rakkety Tam (2004)
  18. High Rhulain (2005)
  19. Eulalia! (2007)
  20. Doomwyte (2008)
  21. The Sable Quean (2010)
  22. The Rogue Crew (2011) (posthumous)

Tribes of Redwall series

  • Tribes of Redwall Badgers (2001)
  • Tribes of Redwall Otters (2001)
  • Tribes of Redwall Mice (2003)
  • Tribes of Redwall Squirrels (Unreleased)
  • Tribes of Redwall Hares (Unreleased)

Miscellaneous Redwall books

  • The Great Redwall Feast (1996)
  • Redwall Map & Riddler (1997)
  • Redwall Friend & Foe (2000)
  • A Redwall Winter's Tale (2003)
  • The Redwall Cookbook (2005)

Castaways of the Flying Dutchman series

  • Castaways of the Flying Dutchman (2001)
  • The Angel's Command (2003)
  • Voyage of Slaves (2006)

Urso Brunov

  • The Tale of Urso Brunov: Little Father of All Bears (2003)
  • Urso Brunov and the White Emperor (2008)

Other works

  • Seven Strange and Ghostly Tales (1991)
  • The Ribbajack & Other Curious Yarns (2004)
  • Get Yer Wack (Anvil Press, 1971)
  • YENNOWORRAMEANLIKE (Raven Books, 1972)
  • According to Jacques - A Mersey Bible (Raven Books, 1975)
  • Jakestown, My Liverpool (Raven Books, 1979)

References