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Jane Langton

ジェーン・ラングトン

Jane Langton

Profile

Gender
Female
Born
1922-12-30 （Boston, Massachusetts, United States）
Died
2018-12-22 （Lincoln, Massachusetts, United States） age 95
Nationality
United States
Languages
English
Religion
United Church of Christ (funeral held)
Residence History
Boston (birthplace) → Lincoln, Massachusetts (longtime residence) → Concord/Lincoln area, Massachusetts (setting for many novels)

Career

Occupations
author, illustrator
Active Years
1961-2018
Influenced By
Ralph Waldo Emerson (philosophical influence), Henry David Thoreau (nature / transcendental influence)
Influenced
New England children's and mystery writers

Education

Wellesley College
studied astronomy
Country: United States
Attended; specific degree details not provided
University of Michigan
art history / related studies
Degree: B.A.（学士）
Period: 〜1944
Year of Graduation: 1944
Country: United States
Received B.A.; later earned an M.A. in art history at the same university
University of Michigan
Art History
Degree: M.A.
Period: 1944–1945
Year of Graduation: 1945
Country: United States
Master's degree in art history
Radcliffe College
Degree: M.A.
Period: 〜1948
Year of Graduation: 1948
Country: United States
Completed another M.A. program at Radcliffe
School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
Fine Arts
Period: 1958–1959
Country: United States
Studied 1958–1959

Awards

Newbery Honor
1981
Work: The Fledgling
Organization: Association for Library Service to Children (American Library Association)
Result: honor
Nero Award
Work: Emily Dickinson Is Dead
Organization: The Wolfe Pack
Result: winner
Mystery Writers of America Grand Master
Organization: Mystery Writers of America
Result: Grand Master (lifetime achievement)
Edgar Award (nominated)
1984
Work: Emily Dickinson Is Dead
Organization: Mystery Writers of America
Result: nominated

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

The Diamond in the Window

1962 Children's literature / fantasy

A children's fantasy set in the Hall family, mixing magical incidents with family relationships.

coming-of-agefamilymagic

The Fledgling

1980 Children's literature

A book in the Hall Family Chronicles focusing on growth and imagination; named a Newbery Honor book.

imaginationself-discovery

Emily Dickinson Is Dead

1984 Mystery

A mystery featuring Harvard professor Homer Kelly. The book was nominated for an Edgar Award and associated with a Nero Award.

academia and mysteryNew England society

Bibliography

  • The Majesty of Grace
  • The Diamond in the Window
  • The Swing in the Summerhouse
  • The Astonishing Stereoscope
  • The Fledgling
  • The Fragile Flag
  • The Time Bike
  • The Mysterious Circus
  • The Dragon Tree
  • The Transcendental Murder (aka The Minuteman Murder)
  • Dark Nantucket Noon
  • The Memorial Hall Murder
  • Natural Enemy
  • Emily Dickinson Is Dead
  • Good and Dead
  • Murder at the Gardner
  • The Dante Game
  • God in Concord
  • Divine Inspiration
  • The Shortest Day: Murder at the Revels
  • Dead as a Dodo
  • The Face on the Wall
  • The Thief of Venice
  • Murder at Monticello
  • The Escher Twist
  • The Deserter: Murder at Gettysburg
  • Steeplechase
  • The Boyhood of Grace Jones
  • Paper Chains
  • The Hedgehog Boy: A Latvian Folktale
  • Salt: From a Russian Folktale
  • The String of Pearls
  • Saint Francis and the Wolf

Style & Themes

Literary Style
Blends New England landscape description with transcendentalist thoughtWitty and literate proseImaginative storytelling for children's books
Recurring Motifs
Concord/Lincoln New England settingsNature and transcendental motifsFamily and coming-of-age

Health

  • respiratory disease (complications)
    2018（死因に関連する合併症）
    Health declined in later years; died in 2018 from complications of a respiratory disease.

Legacy

Jane Langton was acclaimed for both her New England–set children's books and mystery novels. With a Newbery Honor for The Fledgling and significant contributions to mystery fiction, she is known for her regional settings and distinctive blend of fantasy and transcendentalist elements.

Academic Societies

  • Mystery Writers of America (associated awards)

Archives

  • Library of Congress holds related bibliographic records

Quotes

  • Jane Langton is a master blender. She mixes Indian magic, the transcendental philosophies of Emerson and Thoreau, and the plain everyday life of Concord, Mass., and comes up with a splendid fantasy.
    Source: Boston Globe (review) (1967)
  • Always a witty and literate writer.
    Source: Chicago Tribune (review) (1995)

Trivia

  • She sometimes illustrated her own books.
  • The model for the Hall Family house is located at 148 Walden Street, Concord, MA.
  • Her husband Bill died in 1997. She had three adult sons: Chris, David and Andy.
  • Her funeral was held at a United Church of Christ.