Antonia Barber
British writer

Antonia Barber

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British writer
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Female
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Biography

Introduction

Antonia Barber born 1932 (real name Barbara Anthony) is an English author of books for children and adults. Barber resides in Kent and Mousehole, Cornwall. Her award winning book The Mousehole Cat has been made into an animated film and is being adapted as a stage musical. She graduated from University College London, and had a husband who was a structural engineer. She is the younger sister of fellow author Pamela Oldfield. Barber is currently living in her oast house in Kent and visiting Mousehole regularly. She is working on the Mousehole Musicals.

Selected works

  • The Affair of the Rockerbye Baby (1966)
  • The Ghosts (1969) —filmed as The Amazing Mr Blunden
  • The Ring in the Rough Stuff (1983)
  • The Enchanter's Daughter (1987)
  • Satchelmouse and the Doll's House (1987)
  • The Mousehole Cat (1990)
  • Catkin (1994)
  • Hidden Tales from Eastern Europe
  • Dancing Shoes
  • Dancing Shoes, Dance to the Rescue

Awards and recognition

The Ghosts (1969)

  • Shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal

The Ring in the Rough Stuff (1983)

  • Shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal

The Mousehole Cat (1990)

  • Nestle Smarties Book Prize children's choice
  • British Book Award

Three illustrators have earned some recognition by the British Library Association for their collaborations with Barber.

  • Errol Le Cain, The Enchanter's Daughter, a commended runner up for the 1987 Greenaway Medal
  • Nicola Bayley, The Mousehole Cat, a commended runner up for the 1990 Greenaway
  • P. J. Lynch, Catkin, on the shortlist for the 1994 Greenaway

The Kate Greenaway Medal recognises the year's best children's book illustration (in that time, by a British subject).