A Deep Dive into Diana Wynne Jones' Charmed Life

In this episode, Susan and Sinéad do a deep dive into one of Susan's 'soul book's - Diana Wynne Jones' classic Charmed Life. Come with us as we discuss the issues of power and responsibility the novel deals with, as well as a very serious scholarly debate about who is more of a 'peacock' - Chrestomanci or Wizard Howl - and an appreciation for Gwendolen Chant, the most unapologetically evil character in children's literature. We discuss the idea of multiple worlds and the mechanics of travelling between them, and how important it is for Cat, the book's protagonist, to finally step into his own potential, and we share a little about how the masterful Diana Wynne Jones has influenced both of us as writers and as people.

Referenced in the episode is the work of:

Aishwara Subramanian: "'So Would You Mind Telling Me Where I Am? It's a Stately Home of Some Kind, Isn't It?' (Charmed Life)", proceedings of the Diana Wynne Jones Conference, 2019

Robin Stevens: Keynote Address, Diana Wynne Jones Conference, 2019

Diana Wynne Jones' own words from Reflections: On the Magic of Writing, 2012

To buy any of the books mentioned in this episode see our Irish and UK bookshop info below:

Our Irish bookshop partner is Halfway Up the Stairs bookshop in Wicklow: www.halfwayupthestairs.ie

In the UK, check out our storefront on https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/Storyshaped. Disclosure: If you buy books linked to our site, we may earn a commission from Bookshop.org, whose fees support independent bookshops.

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