In Memoriam: Madeleine L'Engle

Obituaries of the amazing Madeleine L'Engle, who died last night, are beginning to appear on-line. The Associated Press obituary reports:

Although L'Engle was often labeled a children's author, she disliked that classification. In a 1993 Associated Press interview, she said she did not write down to children.

"In my dreams, I never have an age," she said. "I never write for any age group in mind. When people do, they tend to be tolerant and condescending and they don't write as well as they can write.

"When you underestimate your audience, you're cutting yourself off from your best work."

I, like so many others, was riveted by A Wrinkle in Time as a child. When I re-read it to The Boy many years later, I found that it had held up well. I still rate it high on the list of books I love and that have stayed with me all my life. Thankfully, though she has left us, her wonderful works will remain to touch each new generation that encounters them.

One of my favorite L'Engle quotes:
"It is not clever to underestimate yourself."

edited to add: The New York Times now has an obituary on-line.

breaking (sad) news

Madeleine L’Engle died last night in Connecticut, at the age of 88. Best known for her 1963 Newbery Award winner A Wrinkle in Time and its sequels, L’Engle was the author of more than 60 books for adults and young readers.

I will update this soon, just wanted to post this news. I am going to try to e-mail The Boy in Germany, as she is a special favorite of his...