Mary Cadogan
Encyclopedia
Mary Cadogan is an English author who was born in Kent
. She has written extensively on popular
and children's fiction including biographies of the creators of William Brown (Just William
) and Billy Bunter
.
She started working for the BBC before the Second World War and met many of the popular entertainers of the time, and later worked on Schools Programming. In 1958 she started working for the Indian philosopher Krishnamurti
and remained for nearly twenty years.
Mary Cadogan's writing career started late but her first book You're a Brick, Angela! was an immediate success. Her articles on the history of children's fiction have appeared in a number of magazines. She was editor of the Just William Society magazine for many years and also edited the Story Paper Collectors' Digest
between 1987 and 2005. Her books, including her collaborations with Patricia Craig, have covered a wide spectrum of popular fiction.
She has written a notable biography of Richmal Crompton
, who wrote the Just William books. She first met her in the late 1940s, but reports that she was then too shy to ask any questions about her writings.
She was interviewed for Gyles Brandreth
's programme on the centenary of Billy Bunter that was broadcast on BBC Radio 4
in February 2008.
Received an Honorary Doctor of Letters from Lancaster University in 2009.
She also wrote the chapter on girls' comics in the DC Thomson Bumper Fun Book (1977)
Kent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
. She has written extensively on popular
Genre fiction
Genre fiction, also known as popular fiction, is a term for fictional works written with the intent of fitting into a specific literary genre in order to appeal to readers and fans already familiar with that genre....
and children's fiction including biographies of the creators of William Brown (Just William
Just William
Just William is the first book of children's short stories about the young school boy William Brown, written by Richmal Crompton, and published in 1922. The book was the first in the series of William Brown books which was the basis for numerous television series, films and radio adaptations...
) and Billy Bunter
Billy Bunter
William George Bunter , is a fictional character created by Charles Hamilton using the pen name Frank Richards...
.
She started working for the BBC before the Second World War and met many of the popular entertainers of the time, and later worked on Schools Programming. In 1958 she started working for the Indian philosopher Krishnamurti
Jiddu Krishnamurti
Jiddu Krishnamurti or J. Krishnamurti or , was a renowned writer and speaker on philosophical and spiritual subjects. His subject matter included: psychological revolution, the nature of the mind, meditation, human relationships, and bringing about positive change in society...
and remained for nearly twenty years.
Mary Cadogan's writing career started late but her first book You're a Brick, Angela! was an immediate success. Her articles on the history of children's fiction have appeared in a number of magazines. She was editor of the Just William Society magazine for many years and also edited the Story Paper Collectors' Digest
Story Paper Collectors' Digest
Story Paper Collectors' Digest was a journal published from November 1946 until May 2005, and with special intermittent issues continuing on until late 2007. It was created by Herbert Leckenby. With articles on story papers, it heavily featured the work of Charles Hamilton, Edwy Searles Brooks and...
between 1987 and 2005. Her books, including her collaborations with Patricia Craig, have covered a wide spectrum of popular fiction.
She has written a notable biography of Richmal Crompton
Richmal Crompton
Richmal Crompton Lamburn was a British writer, most famous for her Just William humorous short stories and books.-Life:...
, who wrote the Just William books. She first met her in the late 1940s, but reports that she was then too shy to ask any questions about her writings.
She was interviewed for Gyles Brandreth
Gyles Brandreth
Gyles Daubeney Brandreth is a British writer, broadcaster and former Conservative Member of Parliament and junior minister.-Early life:...
's programme on the centenary of Billy Bunter that was broadcast on BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4 is a British domestic radio station, operated and owned by the BBC, that broadcasts a wide variety of spoken-word programmes, including news, drama, comedy, science and history. It replaced the BBC Home Service in 1967. The station controller is currently Gwyneth Williams, and the...
in February 2008.
Received an Honorary Doctor of Letters from Lancaster University in 2009.
Published books
- You're a Brick, Angela! The Girls' Story from 1839-1975 (with Patricia Craig) (1976) (updated and revised edition 1986) ISBN 057503825X
- Women and Children First: The Fiction of Two World Wars (with Patricia Craig) 1978)
- Richmal Crompton: The Woman Behind William (1986) ISBN 0750932856
- The Lady Investigates: Women Detectives and Spies in Fiction (with Patricia Craig) (1986) ISBN 0-19-281938-0
- Frank Richards: The Chap Behind the Chums (1988) ISBN 0905882016
- Chin Up, Chest Out, Jemima: A Celebration of the Schoolgirls' Story (1989)
- The William Companion (1991) ISBN 0333511840
- Women with Wings: Female Flyers in Fact and Fiction (1992)
- And Then Their Hearts Stood Still: An Exuberant Look at Romantic Fiction Past and Present (1994)
- Just William Through the Ages (1994) ISBN 0333620976
- Mary Carries on: Reflections on Some Favourite Girls' Stories (2008)
She also wrote the chapter on girls' comics in the DC Thomson Bumper Fun Book (1977)