Norwich-born author Philip Pullman awarded knighthood in New Year’s Honours
Norwich-born author Philip Pullman, best known for the His Dark Materials trilogy, has been awarded a knighthood. Picture: Bill Smith - Credit: Archant © 2005
Norwich-born author Philip Pullman said he was 'very surprised and honoured' after being awarded a knighthood.
The best-selling writer, known for the His Dark Materials series of books, has been recognised in the New Year's Honours list for his services to literature.
Pullman, 72, included fellow literary figures such as children's author Dame Jacqueline Wilson and illustrator Sir Quentin Blake among those he was proud to join in accepting the honour.
He said: 'I was very surprised and honoured to be offered a knighthood. I believe the profession of letters should be recognised as having a proper place in the life of the nation, along with science, and sport, and music, and scholarship, and many other human activities.
'Many people I admire, such as Quentin Blake, Ellen MacArthur, Chris Hoy, Jacqueline Wilson, Nicholas Hytner, Jocelyn Bell Burnell, Bryn Terfel, Ray Davies, Mary Beard - far too many to list - have been happy to accept a knighthood or damehood, and I am proud to be in their company.
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'I'm immensely grateful to those who have worked so hard over many years to edit, publish, illustrate and sell my books, and to the Society of Authors, which does so much for the profession of authorship. I'm most grateful of all to those who continue to read my books, and I hope they don't have to work as hard as those who edit them.'
Born in Norwich to a Royal Air Force pilot, Pullman moved often during his early childhood whenever his father was redeployed.
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After his father died in 1954 when Pullman was seven, his mother remarried and moved to Australia, before the family eventually settled in North Wales.
He remains a prolific writer and in May was named author of the year at the British Book Awards, the latest prize in a storied career.
Pullman's best-known work is the His Dark Materials trilogy, beginning with Northern Lights in 1995, continuing with The Subtle Knife in 1997 and concluding with 2000's The Amber Spyglass.
A film adaption of the trilogy's first instalment, starring Nicole Kidman and Daniel Craig, was released in 2007 under the name of its US title - The Golden Compass.
