Madeleine L’Engle, the prolific author best known for her book A Wrinkle in Time, died this week at the age of 88.

L’Engle is widely considered a children’s fantasy writer, but her lengthy list of works defies most standard classifications. She wrote for children, for adults, fiction and autobiographical memoirs–even plays and poetry. She deftly mixed elements of fantasy, science fiction and science fact that made her writing unique.

Some of her most popular children’s works were actually written for adults, but transcend age so well that they have since become part of the standard canon for children’s literature, much like the works of J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis.

Her most popular series is the time fantasy quartet beginning with “A Wrinkle in Time,” which won the prestigious Newbery Award in 1963. Ironically, considering its now classic status, the manuscript was rejected by 26 publishers before being accepted by Farrar, Straus. It tells the story of three gifted children, Meg, her friend Calvin, and her genius brother Charles Wallace who must rescue their father who has space/time traveled to an evil planet from which he cannot escape. The themes of good and evil, the power of love’s redemption, and the inclusion of Einstein’s theory of relativity and quantum theory made most publishers wary of the book’s ability to find an audience.

L’Engle herself said in a Horn Book interview, “I think that fantasy must possess the author and simply use him. I know that this is true of “A Wrinkle in Time.” I can’t possibly tell you how I came to write it. It was simply a book I had to write. I had no choice. And it was only after it was written that I realized what some of it meant.”

We can be glad she did write it, as well as the subsequent titles in the series, “A Wind in the Door,” “A Swiftly Tilting Planet,” and “Many Waters,” because they have become classics of children’s literature.

Adults may wish to revisit these children’s titles, but may also find fascinating L’Engle’s memoirs, which chronicle her life, marriage, and theology: “A Circle of Quiet,” “The Summer of the Great-grandmother,” “The Irrational Season,” and “Two-Part Invention: The Story of a Marriage.” This last is a poignant chronicle of her relationship with actor Hugh Franklin, written shortly after his death of cancer after 40 years of marriage.

Madeleine L’Engle will be missed, but she left a rich collection of works for all ages to enjoy and ponder for years to come. Beebe Library has most of her major titles for both children and adults, and has set aside many on a special display this month to commemorate her death.

Story Time Changes

Registration is now required for story times for two and three year-olds. These programs replace drop-in story times for this age group. People can apply for story time slots online, by phone (781-246-3334, x3) or in person at the Youth Room desk.

Story times for four and five year-olds are provided on a drop-in basis and priority is given to Wakefield children. Nonresidents are wait-listed until the start of the program. Parents present a library card at the Youth Desk to get a nametag.

Any questions, or for more information about the library’s story times for children, phone 781-246-6334, x3.

Books by the Lake to Meet

The next gathering of Beebe Library’s book discussion group, Books by the Lake, is on Wednesday, September 19, at 7:30 in the Lecture Hall. The book group will discuss “Austen Envy,” a thematic selection of three titles. The books are Jane Austen’s Persuasion, Karen Joy Fowler’s The Jane Austen Book Club and Laurie Horowitz’s The Family Fortune.

Go online for more information about this group and all of Beebe Library’s book discussion groups.

Categories: Authors, Book Buzz, Book Discussion Groups, Fantasy, Library News, Science Fiction
Tags: book groups, Books by the Lake, Fantasy, Madeleine L’Engle, Science fiction, story hours