PRINGLE, Eric

PERSONAL: Born in Morpeth, Northumberland, England; son of Ernest (a farmer) and Hannah Pringle; married Pat Baker; children: David, Susannah. Education: University of Nottingham, B.A. (English and American literature; with honors). Religion: Protestant. Hobbies and other interests: Walking, music, traveling, reader, theater, history.

ADDRESSES: Agent—Cecily Ware Literary Agents, 19C John Spencer Sq. Cannonbury, London N1 2LZ, England. E-mail—[email protected].

CAREER: Freelance author and playwright. Previously worked in various occupations, including insurance sales, farming, and teaching.

AWARDS, HONORS: Sony "Gold" Radio Academy Award, for Hymns Paradisi.

WRITINGS:

Dr. Who, The Awakening (based on the BBC television serial by Pringle), W. H. Allen (London, England), 1985.

Big George (for children), illustrated by Collin Paine, Annick Press (Toronto, Ontario, Canada), 2001.

Big George and the Seventh Knight (for children), illustrated by Collin Paine, Bloomsbury (London, England), 2002.

Creator and writer of the Dr. Who series televised by BBC; author of numerous television and radio plays.

SIDELIGHTS: Eric Pringle related to CA that his "love for history has been behind quite a few of my plays, and now Big George. To me, history is real and not just an academic subject—we too, will one day be history—and I love to imagine myself in other times and places with real people. Hence, the medieval background of Big George. And in one way the character of the alien, George, looking at this savage world and trying to make sense of it, is me."

BIOGRAPHICAL AND CRITICAL SOURCES:

PERIODICALS

Kirkus Reviews, October 15, 2001, review of BigGeorge, p. 1490.

School Librarian, autumn, 2001, Teresa Scragg, review of Big George, p. 146.