Jonathan Anthony Stroud (born 27 October 1970) is a British writer of fantasy fiction, best known for the Bartimaeus young adult sequence and Lockwood & Co. children's series. His books are typically set in an alternative history London with fantasy elements, and have received note for his satire, and use of magic to reflect themes of class struggle. The Bartimaeus sequence is the recipient of the Grand Prix de l'Imaginaire and Mythopoeic Fantasy Awards. Stroud's works have also been featured on ALA Notable lists of books for children and young adults. In 2020, Netflix announced a TV series based on Lockwood & Co., with filming initiated in July 2021.

Jonathan Stroud
Stroud at the Gothenburg Book Fair in 2016
Stroud at the Gothenburg Book Fair in 2016
Born (1970-10-27) 27 October 1970 (age 54)
Bedford, England
OccupationWriter
NationalityBritish
Period1999–present
GenreChildren's fantasy
Website
www.jonathanstroud.com

Biography and career

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Born in 1970 in Bedford, England, Stroud began to write stories at a very young age.[1] He grew up in St Albans where he attended Wheatfields Junior School and St Albans Boys' School.[2] He enjoyed reading books, drawing pictures, and writing stories. He attributes his love of reading and writing to being ill between the ages of seven and nine. To escape boredom, he would occupy himself with books and stories.[3] After he completed his studies of English literature at the University of York, he worked in London as an editor for publishers Walker Books. During the 1990s, he started publishing his own works and quickly gained success.[3]

Among his works are the best-selling[4] Bartimaeus Trilogy, which has received note for its satire and use of magic to explore themes of class struggle. By narrating the story from the perspective of Bartimaeus, a sarcastic and slightly egomaniacal djinni, Stroud examines the stereotypes and ethics of the magician class and the enslaved demons.[5][6] The books in this series, his first to be published in the United States, are The Amulet of Samarkand, The Golem's Eye, Ptolemy's Gate, and prequel The Ring of Solomon.

In 2013, the first book in the Lockwood & Co (which is about a ghost hunter agency in a ghost-ravaged England) series, Lockwood & Co.: The Screaming Staircase was released, and achieved critical acclaim, with Rick Riordan calling Stroud a "genius".[7] The second book, The Whispering Skull, was released in September 2014. A third novel, titled The Hollow Boy, was announced through a competition orchestrated by Stroud, asking readers to send in an idea for a ghost to feature in the third story.[8] The fourth book, The Creeping Shadow, was published in 2016, and the last book in the series, The Empty Grave, was published in 2017.[9]

In late 2020, Netflix announced that Stroud's Lockwood & Co. series would be made into a television show produced by Nira Park, Rachael Prior, and Joe Cornish.[10] Filming began in July 2021 in London.[11]

His new series, The Outlaws Scarlett and Browne, which currently consists of two books, is about two outlaws and their infamous heists.

Personal life

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Stroud lives in St Albans, Hertfordshire,[12] with his wife Gina and their three children.[3]

Bibliography

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Fiction (Solo)

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Children's literature

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TitlePublisherDateGenreLengthISBN
The Viking Saga of Harri BristlebeardWalker Books1 September 1997Children's fiction, puzzle book32 pages (hardcover)978-0-7636-0270-3
The Hare and the TortoiseWalker Books5 October 1998Children's fiction, sticker bookn/a978-1-4063-0295-0
Walking Through the JungleWalker Books1 January 1998Children's fiction, sticker bookn/a978-1-4063-0300-1
Little Red CarWalker Books2 August 1999Children's fiction15 pages (UK paperback)978-0-7445-2951-7
Alfie's Big AdventureWalker Books2 August 1999Children's fiction14 pages (UK paperback)978-0-7445-2948-7
Little Spike and Long TailWalker Books3 January 2000Children's literature, puzzle bookn/a978-0-7445-2964-7
Goldilocks and the Three BearsWalker Books2000Children's literature, puzzle book15 pages (UK paperback)978-0-7445-6554-6
The LeapRed Fox1 January 2001Children's literature192 pages (UK paperback)978-0-09-940285-5
The Lost Treasure of Captain BloodWalker Books1 January 2006Children's literature, puzzle book32 pages (UK paperback)978-1-84428-767-3

Novella

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TitlePublisherDateGenreLengthISBN
The Ghost of Shadow ValeBarrington Stoke1 January 2009Teen and YA, fantasy64 (paperback)978-1-84299-705-5

Teen and YA

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TitlePublisherDateGenreLengthISBN
Buried FireGardners Books3 April 2003Teen and YA, science fiction/fantasy304 (UK paperback)978-0-552-54933-2
The Last SiegeGardners Books31 January 2004Teen and YA261 pages (UK paperback)978-0-552-55146-5
Heroes of the ValleyHyperion Books29 January 2009Teen & YA, fantasy496 pages (UK hardcover)978-1-4231-0966-2

Heroes of the Valley was featured on the VOYA Magazine's Perfect Tens list in 2009.[13]

Non-fiction

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TitlePublisherDateGenreLengthISBN
Justin Credible's Word Play WorldWalker Books1994Puzzle bookn/a0-00-000000-0
Ancient Rome: A Guide to the Glory of Imperial RomeKingfisher15 April 2000Children's history book30 pages (UK hardcover)978-0-7534-5235-6
Life and Times in Ancient RomeKingfisher3 September 2007Children's history book30 pages (UK hardcover)978-1-4352-7505-8

Fiction (YA series)

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No.TitlePublisherDateLengthISBN
2The Amulet of SamarkandDoubleday1 October 2003272 pages (UK hardcover)978-0-385-60599-1
3The Golem's EyeGardners Books30 September 2004570 pages (UK hardcover)978-0-385-60615-8
4Ptolemy's GateDoubleday1 January 2005528 pages (UK paperback)978-0-385-60868-8
1The Ring of SolomonDoubleday14 October 2010528 pages (UK paperback)978-0-385-61915-8

The Amulet of Samarkand was given a starred review by Booklist and Publishers Weekly in 2003,[14] recommended on Texas Lone Star's YA reading list in 2005,[15] and given commendation for Great Graphic Novels for Teens in 2011.[16]

No.TitlePublisherDateLengthISBN
1The Screaming StaircaseCorgi Books3 July 2014480 pages (UK paperback)978-0-552-56678-0
2The Whispering SkullCorgi Books25 February 2015496 pages (UK paperback)978-0-552-56805-0
2.5The Dagger in the DeskPenguin Books9 February 201535 pages (Penguin eBook)978-1-4481-9694-4
3The Hollow BoyCorgi Books24 September 2015448 pages (UK paperback)978-0-552-57314-6
4The Creeping ShadowCorgi Books15 September 2016560 pages (UK paperback)978-0-552-57315-3
5The Empty GraveCorgi Books21 September 2017560 pages (UK paperback)978-0-552-57579-9

The Screaming Staircase has been recommended by Capitol Choices: Noteworthy Books for Children and Teens (audiobook) and Children and Teens (ten to fourteen) (2014); Texas Lone Star Reading List (2014); Cooperative Children's Book Center (2014); Look! Hoo's Reading (2014), and Amazing Audiobooks for Young Adults (2014).[17][18] The Whispering Skull was selected by the CCBC Choices (2015) and the Junior Library Guild (2015) and was given a starred review by Booklist (2014), Kirkus (2014), and School Library Journal (2014).[19] The Hollow Boy was selected by the CCBC Choices (2016) and the Junior Library Guild (2016) and was given a starred review by Booklist (2015) and School Library Journal (2015).[20] The Creeping Shadow was given a starred review by Booklist (2016) and was selected by the Junior Library Guild as their mystery/adventure novel of 2017.[21] The Empty Grave was given a starred review by Booklist in 2017.[22]

The Outlaws Scarlett and Browne

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No.TitlePublisherDateLengthISBN
1The Outlaws Scarlett and BrowneWalker Books1 April 2021432 pages (hardcover)978-1-4063-9481-8
2The Notorious Scarlett and BrowneWalker Books7 July 2022416 pages (paperback)978-1-4063-9482-5


Awards and honours

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Bartimaeus sequence

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Book Year Award Name Award Body Result Ref.
The Amulet of Samarkand 2004 Best Books for Young Adults American Library Association Top Ten [23]
2004 Notable Children's Books American Library Association Won [24]
2004 Boston Globe–Horn Book Award The Boston Globe and The Horn Book Magazine Honor book [25]
2004 Locus Award (YA) Locus Nominated [26]
2004 Selected Audiobooks for Young Adults American Library Association Won [27]
2005 Nevada Young Readers' Award (YA) Nevada Library Association Nominated [28]
2005 Deutscher Jugendliteraturpreis for Jugendbuch Nominated [29]
2006 Evergreen Teen Book Award Washington Young Adult Review Group Nominated [30]
2006 Georgia Peach Book Award for Teen Readers Georgia Library Association Nominated [31]
2007 Indian Paintbrush Book Award (Grades 4-6) Wyoming Library Association Nominated [32]
The Golem's Eye 2005 Selected Audiobooks for Young Adults American Library Association Won [33]
2005 Best Books for Young Adults American Library Association Won [34]
2005 Locus Award (YA) Locus Nominated [26]
2007 Colorado Blue Spruce Award (YA) Colorado Blue Spruce Young Adult Book Awards Nominated [35]
Ptolemy's Gate 2006 Cybils Award (Speculative Fiction) Cybils Awards Won [36]
2006 Locus Award for Best Young Adult Novel Locus Nominated [26]
2006 Corine International Book Prize Börsenverein des Deutschen Buchhandels Won [37]
2007 Selected Audiobooks for Young Adults American Library Association Won [38]
2007 Notable Children's Recordings American Library Association Won [39]
Bartimaeus trilogy (books 1–3) 2006 Mythopoeic Fantasy Award for Children's Literature Mythopoeic Society Won [40]
2007 Grand Prix de l'Imaginaire (Youth Novel) Utopiales Won [41]
The Ring of Solomon 2010 Costa Children's Book Award Costa Coffee Nominated [42]
2010 Der Leserpreis (The Reader's Award) Lovelybooks.de Shortlisted [43]
2012 Amazing Audiobooks for Young Adults American Library Association Won [44]

Lockwood & Co.

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Book Year Award Name Award Body Result Ref.
The Screaming Staircase 2013 Cybils Award (Speculative Fiction) Cybils Awards Won [45]
2013 Goodreads Choice Award (Middle Grade & Children's) Goodreads Nominated [46]
2014 Los Angeles Times Book Prize Los Angeles Times Finalist [47][48]
2014 Edgar Awards (Best Juvenile) Mystery Writers of America Nominated [49]
2014 WeRead Prize Jewish Community Secondary School Won [50]
2014 Booktrust Best Book Awards (9-11 Best Story) BookTrust and Amazon Kindle Shortlisted [51]
2014 North Carolina Young Adult Book Award Nominated [52]
2014 Carnegie Medal CILIP Nominated [53]
2014 Worcestershire Teen Book Award Worcestershire Public Libraries Shortlisted [54]
2014 Silver Inky Award Inside a Dog Shortlisted [55]
2015 Sakura Medal International Librarians of Japan Nominated
2015 Warwickshire Secondary Book Awards Stratford Girls' Grammar School Won [56]
2015 Coventry Inspiration Book Awards Coventry City Council Shortlisted
2015 UKYA Blogger Awards UKYA Blogger Awards Nominated [57]
2015 The Weald Book Award The Weald School Shortlisted [58]
2015 Popular Paperbacks for Young Adults American Library Association Won [59]
2016 Beehive Book Awards (Young Adult Fiction) Children's Literature Association of Utah Nominated [60]
2016 Nevada Young Readers' Award (Intermediate) Nevada Library Association Won [61]
2016 Sasquatch Award Washington Library Association Nominated [62]
2017 Rebecca Caudill Young Readers' Book Award Rebecca Caudhill Nominated [63]
The Whispering Skull 2014 Goodreads Choice Award (Middle Grade & Children's) Goodreads Nominated [64]
2015 Amazing Audiobooks for Young Adults American Library Association Top 30 [65]
The Hollow Boy 2015 Goodreads Choice Award (Middle Grade & Children's) Goodreads Nominated [66]
The Creeping Shadow 2016 Goodreads Choice Award (Middle Grade & Children's) Goodreads Nominated [67]
The Empty Grave 2017 Goodreads Choice Awards (Middle Grade & Children's) Goodreads Nominated [68]
2017 Booklist Editor's Choice for Youth Booklist Won [69]
2019 Carnegie Medal CILIP Nominated [70]

Other works

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Book Year Award Name Award Body Result Ref.
Heroes of the Valley 2009 Premio El Templo de las Mil Puertas for Mejor novela extranjera independiente Nominated [71]
2010 Locus Award (YA) Locus Nominated [26]
2010 Best Books for Young Adults American Library Association Won [72]
2010 Carnegie Medal in Literature CILIP Nominated
2011 Premio El Templo de las Mil Puertas for Mejor novela extranjera perteneciente a saga Nominated [73]


References

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  1. ^ "About Jonathan Stroud".
  2. ^ Anglesey, Melanie (10 March 2011). "St Albans gave inspiration to bestselling fantasy writer Jonathan Stroud". St Albans & Harpenden Review.
  3. ^ a b c "About Jonathan Stroud". jonathanstroud.com. Retrieved 7 March 2010.
  4. ^ "New York Times Best Sellers (Children's) February 12, 2006". The New York Times. 12 February 2006. Retrieved 19 February 2011.
  5. ^ Feay, Suzi (29 April 2013). "Ptolemy's Gate, by Jonathan Stroud". The Independent. Archived from the original on 14 June 2022.
  6. ^ Ahlin, Charlotte (26 February 2016). "How The Bartimaeus Trilogy Made Me Love Comedy". Bustle.
  7. ^ Stroud, Jonathan (2013). The Screaming Staircase.
  8. ^ Stroud, Jonathan (31 October 2014). "See your ghost in Jonathan Stroud's next book!". The Guardian.
  9. ^ "Jonathan Stroud – Book Series in Order". 16 January 2017.
  10. ^ Niu, Yinchen (13 December 2020). "Netflix Unveils New U.K. Projects With Sam Mendes, Rowan Atkinson, Andy Serkis". Retrieved 17 July 2021.
  11. ^ Bradley (8 July 2021). "Netflix Supernatural Detective Series 'Lockwood & Co.' Officially Begins Filming". Midgard Times. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
  12. ^ "Jonathan Stroud". Archived from the original on 15 January 2023. Retrieved 15 January 2023.
  13. ^ "VOYA's Perfect Tens 2009". voya. 2009. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
  14. ^ "Best Children's Books 2003". 10 November 2003. Archived from the original on 13 September 2019. Retrieved 15 January 2023.
  15. ^ The Amulet of Samarkand. Little, Brown and Company. 27 June 2017. ISBN 9780786852550. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
  16. ^ "The Amulet of Samarkand (A Bartimaeus Graphic Novel)". Retrieved 15 January 2023.
  17. ^ "Texas Lone Star Reading List". Monahans-Wickett-Pyote Walker Junior High School. n.d. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
  18. ^ "The Screaming Staircase". TeachingBooks. n.d. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
  19. ^ The Whispering Skull. Squamish Public Library. n.d. ISBN 9781423164920. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
  20. ^ The hollow boy: Lockwood & Co. Series, Book 3. Nashville Public Library. n.d. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
  21. ^ "The Creeping Shadow". Book Connections. n.d. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
  22. ^ The Empty Grave. Pima County Public Library. n.d. ISBN 9781484778722. OCLC 968771353. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
  23. ^ "The Amulet of Samarkand: Bartimaeus Trilogy, Book One | Awards & Grants". American Library Association. 4 April 2010. Retrieved 18 July 2021.
  24. ^ "The Amulet of Samarkand | Awards & Grants". American Library Association. 25 October 2009. Retrieved 18 July 2021.
  25. ^ "Jonathan Stroud's 2004 Boston Globe-Horn Book Honor Book acceptance speech". The Horn Book Inc. 1 January 2004. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
  26. ^ a b c d "Jonathan Stroud Awards". Science Fiction Awards Database. Locus Science Fiction Foundation. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
  27. ^ "The Amulet of Samarkand | Awards & Grants". American Library Association. 18 February 2010. Retrieved 18 July 2021.
  28. ^ "2005 Nevada Young Readers' Award". FictionDB. n.d. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
  29. ^ "The Amulet of Samarkand (Bartimaeus, #1)". Goodreads. Retrieved 18 July 2021.
  30. ^ "2006 Winner - Eragon by Christopher Paolini". Evergreen Teen Book Awards. n.d. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
  31. ^ "2006 Georgia Peach Book Award for Teen Readers". FictionDB. n.d. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
  32. ^ "Indian Paintbrush Book Award (Grades 4-6)". Wyoming Library Association. n.d. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
  33. ^ "Golem's Eye | Awards & Grants". American Library Association. 18 February 2010. Retrieved 18 July 2021.
  34. ^ "The Golem's Eye: The Bartimaeus Trilogy, Book Two | Awards & Grants". American Library Association. 1 April 2010. Retrieved 18 July 2021.
  35. ^ "2007 Colorado Blue Spruce Award". FictionDB. n.d. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
  36. ^ "The 2006 Cybils Awards" (PDF). Cybils Awards. 2006. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
  37. ^ "Von Brandauer bis Biedenkopf" [From Brandauer to Biedenkopf]. Münchner Merkur (in German). 5 July 2009. Der Jugendbuchpreis geht an Jonathan Stroud für Die Pforte des Magiers [The youth book prize goes to Jonathan Stroud for The Gate of the Magician]
  38. ^ "Ptolemy's Gate: The Bartimaeus Trilogy, Book Three | Awards & Grants". American Library Association. 11 February 2010. Retrieved 18 July 2021.
  39. ^ "Ptolemy's Gate | Awards & Grants". American Library Association. 21 October 2009. Retrieved 18 July 2021.
  40. ^ "Mythopoeic Awards — 2006". Mythopoeic Society. 12 August 2014. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
  41. ^ "Grand Prix de l'Imaginaire 2007". Utopiales (in French). Retrieved 19 September 2021. Roman jeunesse lauréats: La Vie suspendue de Timothée de Fombelle (Gallimard) ex æquo avec La Trilogie de Bartiméus de Jonathan Stroud (Albin Michel) [Youth novel winners: Suspended Life by Timothy of Fombelle (Gallimard) tied with The Trilogy of Bartimaeus by Jonathan Stroud (Albin Michel)]
  42. ^ Brown, Mark (16 November 2010). "Costa prize shortlist falls short on biographies". The Guardian. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
  43. ^ "Der Leserpreis - die besten Bücher 2010" [The Reader's Award - the best books 2010]. Lovelybooks.de (in German). Archived from the original on 11 November 2011.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  44. ^ "2012 Amazing Audiobooks for Young Adults Top Ten". Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA). 24 January 2012. Retrieved 18 July 2021.
  45. ^ "2013 CYBILS AWARD WINNERS ANNOUNCED". The Children's Book Council. 18 February 2014. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
  46. ^ "The Screaming Staircase (Lockwood & Co., #1)". Goodreads. Retrieved 18 July 2021.
  47. ^ Diaz, Shelley (20 February 2014). "Rowell, Yang Are L.A. Times Book Award Finalists; Green Honored as an Innovator". SLJ. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
  48. ^ "2014 Los Angeles Times Book Prizes Winners Announced". Los Angeles Times. 18 April 2015. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
  49. ^ "Edgar Allan Poe Awards 2014". Book Reporter. n.d. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
  50. ^ Saker, James (31 July 2014). "We Read Experience". Ronson Jewish Community Secondary School. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
  51. ^ Eyre, Charlotte (27 March 2014). "Booktrust unveils shortlist for Best Book Awards". The Book Seller. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
  52. ^ "2014-2015 Nominees & Winners". NCSLMA YA Book Award. 2014. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
  53. ^ "Five of our books nominated for the CILIP Carnegie Medal 2014". Knight Hall Agency. 5 November 2013. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
  54. ^ "Worcestershire's Teen Book Award winner announced". Evesham Journal. 8 August 2014. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
  55. ^ "The 2014 Inky Awards Shortlist". Readings. 25 August 2014. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
  56. ^ "Warwickshire Book Awards". Stratford Girls' Grammar School. 2015. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
  57. ^ "The 2015 UKYA Blogger Awards: A Whole Lot of Awesome". Once Upon a Bookcase. 2015. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
  58. ^ "The Weald Book Award". LRC & Library. n.d. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
  59. ^ "2015 Popular Paperbacks for Young Adults Top Ten". Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA). 26 January 2015. Retrieved 18 July 2021.
  60. ^ "clau_2016.pdf" (PDF). Children's Literature Association of Utah. 2016. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
  61. ^ "Past winners". Nevada Library Association. n.d. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
  62. ^ Lagios, Melina (2 February 2016). "And the Award Goes To…". San Juan Islander. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
  63. ^ "Rebecca Caudill Young Readers' Book Award". Rebecca Caudhill. Retrieved 18 July 2021.
  64. ^ "The Whispering Skull (Lockwood & Co., #2)". Goodreads. Retrieved 18 July 2021.
  65. ^ "2015 Amazing Audiobooks for Young Adults". Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA). 3 February 2015. Retrieved 18 July 2021.
  66. ^ "The Hollow Boy (Lockwood & Co., #3)". Goodreads. Retrieved 18 July 2021.
  67. ^ "The Creeping Shadow (Lockwood & Co., #4)". Goodreads. Retrieved 18 July 2021.
  68. ^ "Best Middle Grade & Children's". Goodreads. 2017. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
  69. ^ Phelan, Carolyn (1 November 2017). The Empty Grave. Retrieved 18 July 2021 – via Booklist.
  70. ^ "Nominations published for the CILIP Carnegie & Kate Greenaway Medals 2019". CILIP. 5 November 2018. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
  71. ^ "Heroes of the Valley". Goodreads. Retrieved 18 July 2021.
  72. ^ "Heroes of the Valley | Awards & Grants". American Library Association. 21 January 2010. Retrieved 18 July 2021.
  73. ^ "The Ring of Solomon (Bartimaeus, #0.5)". Goodreads. Retrieved 18 July 2021.
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