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Philip Pullman

フィリップ・プルマン

Philip Pullman

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
1946-10-19 （Norwich, England）
Nationality
British
Languages
English
Religion
Atheist / Agnostic (no religious affiliation)
Residence History
Norfolk (childhood) → Llanbedr, Ardudwy (Wales, formative years) → Oxford (residence / work)

Career

Occupations
novelist, children's author, essayist, playwright
Active Years
1972-2025
Affiliations
The Blake Society - (served as president), Humanists UK (supporter), National Secular Society (Honorary Associate)
Memberships
Society of Authors (former president), The Blake Society, Humanists UK
Influenced By
John Milton, William Blake, Homer, Virgil, Dante, Allen Ginsberg, Bob Dylan (influence on song/poetic sensibility), Hergé (Adventures of Tintin)

Education

Exeter College, Oxford
English / English
Degree: BA (Third class)
Period: 1965–1968
Year of Graduation: 1968
Country: United Kingdom
BA (Third class). Later pursued a career as a writer and lecturer.

Awards

Carnegie Medal
1995
Work: Northern Lights (The Golden Compass)
Organization: CILIP (Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals)
Result: Winner
Guardian Children's Fiction Prize
1995
Work: Northern Lights
Organization: The Guardian
Result: Winner
Whitbread / Costa Book Awards
2001
Work: The Amber Spyglass
Category: Children's Book / Book of the Year
Organization: Whitbread / Costa
Result: Winner
Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award
2005
Category: Lifetime contribution
Organization: Swedish Arts Council
Result: Winner
Gold Nestlé Smarties Book Prize
1995
Work: The Firework-Maker's Daughter
Organization: Nestlé Smarties Book Prize
Result: Winner (Gold)
New English Library Young Writer's Award
1972
Work: The Haunted Storm
Organization: New English Library
Result: Joint winner
CBE (Commander of the Order of the British Empire)
2004
Category: Services to literature
Organization: UK Honours System
Result: Appointed
Knight Bachelor
2019
Category: Services to literature
Organization: UK Honours System
Result: Knighted
J. M. Barrie Award
2019
Category: Lifetime achievement
Organization: Action for Children's Art
Result: Winner
Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature (FRSL)
2001
Organization: Royal Society of Literature
Result: Elected

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

Northern Lights (The Golden Compass)

1995 Fantasy (Young adult) 400 pages

Set in a parallel world where people's souls manifest as animal companions called dæmons, the novel follows Lyra as she uncovers a sinister conspiracy and embarks on a quest that explores freedom, authority and truth.

religion and powerindividual freedomcoming-of-agemultiple worlds
Adaptations
  • [Film] The Golden Compass (film) / Chris Weitz (2007)
  • [Stage] His Dark Materials (National Theatre adaptation) (2003)
Translations
  • Japanese translations (various editions)

The Subtle Knife

1997 Fantasy (Young adult) 352 pages

The second volume of His Dark Materials. Will and Lyra meet as the story expands into multiple worlds, centered on a knife that can cut between universes.

ethics and responsibilitymultiple worldsfriendship and sacrifice
Translations
  • Various Japanese translations

The Amber Spyglass

2000 Fantasy (Young adult) 470 pages

The final book of the trilogy. Traversing multiple universes, it reaches a climax that interrogates consciousness, the nature of existence and moral ambiguity.

nature of consciousnesslife and deathresistance to authority
Translations
  • Japanese translations available

The Book of Dust trilogy

2017 Fantasy

A companion trilogy to His Dark Materials, described by Pullman as an 'equel' rather than a sequel or prequel. Includes La Belle Sauvage, The Secret Commonwealth and The Rose Field.

memory and historyabuse of powergrowth and morality

Bibliography

  • The Haunted Storm (1972)
  • Galatea (1978)
  • Count Karlstein (1982)
  • The Ruby in the Smoke (1985)
  • His Dark Materials trilogy (1995–2000)
  • The Book of Dust series (2017–2025)
  • Many other children's books, novels and essays

Adaptations

  • The Golden Compass (film, 2007)
  • His Dark Materials (TV series, BBC/HBO, 2019–)
  • National Theatre stage adaptation (2003)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
fantasy infused with psychological realismuse of allegory and mythic motifsblend of humour and philosophical reflection
Recurring Motifs
dæmons (embodiments of the soul)multiple worlds, doors and boundariescritique of authority and doctrinecoming-of-age and self-discovery

Legacy

Philip Pullman is a major figure in children's and young-adult literature, widely recognised for fantasy works that engage with religion, authority and philosophical themes. His books (over 49 million copies by 2025) have won numerous awards and have been adapted for stage and screen.

Academic Societies

  • Royal Society of Literature (Fellow)

In Popular Culture

  • His Dark Materials has been adapted multiple times for film, television and stage

Quotes

  • “We have to realize that our human nature demands meaning and joy.”
    Source: Essay / lecture (e.g. 'The Republic of Heaven') (2001)

Trivia

  • As of 2025 the books in the two trilogies plus related short stories have sold over 49 million copies.
  • He has narrated unabridged audiobooks of the His Dark Materials novels.
  • Lifelong fan of Norwich City F.C.; wrote the foreword to the club's official history.