World Literary Awards

← Back to Home

Lian Hearn

リアン・ハーン

Rian Hān

Aliases: Gillian Rubinstein / Gillian Margaret Hanson
Pen Names: G.M. Hanson（pen name）

Profile

Gender
Female
Born
1942-08-29 （Potten End, Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire, England）
Nationality
United Kingdom
Languages
English
Residence History
England (childhood) → Nigeria (childhood) → Australia (from 1973, currently Mullumbimby, New South Wales)

Career

Occupations
writer, children's author, playwright
Active Years
1986-2024
Influenced By
Lafcadio Hearn

Awards

Children's Peace Literature Award
1987
Work: Space Demons
Organization: Australian Literature Award body
Result: winner
Deutscher Jugendliteraturpreis
2004
Work: Brilliance of the Moon
Result: winner

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

Across the Nightingale Floor

2002 historical fantasy

Set in a fictional feudal Japan-like nation, it follows Takeo, a boy who discovers his heritage from the assassin Tribe.

revengelovefateidentity

Grass for His Pillow

2003 historical fantasy

Second book in Tales of the Otori. Takeo and Shiraz's relationship amid clan wars.

loyaltybetrayalcoming of age

Brilliance of the Moon

2004 historical fantasy

Third book. Marriage, battles, and supernatural elements intertwine.

warsupernaturalsacrifice

Bibliography

  • Space Demons
  • Across the Nightingale Floor
  • Grass for His Pillow
  • Brilliance of the Moon
  • The Harsh Cry of the Heron

Style & Themes

Literary Style
vivid and imaginative proseblend of fantasy and realitypoetic descriptions
Recurring Motifs
heronsfeudal Japan-like societyassassin tribesmythical elements

Legacy

Debuted with award-winning children's books; achieved international success with the Tales of the Otori series in adult fantasy, creating a captivating feudal Japan-inspired world.

Trivia

  • 'Lian' comes from a childhood nickname. 'Hearn' apparently refers to herons, a prominent motif in the series, or borrowed from Lafcadio Hearn.