The Bartimaeus Sequence and Lockwood & Co. series established Jonathan Stroud as a prominent British author of fantasy literature. Born in 1970 in Bedford, his career trajectory moved from editorial work in London to becoming a writer of acclaimed young adult fiction, consistently utilising magic and ghost-hunting themes to examine social structures.
Early Development and Editorial Career
Stroud spent his childhood in St Albans, where he attended Wheatfields Junior School and St Albans Boys' School. He identifies a period of illness between the ages of seven and nine as a formative time that fostered his engagement with books and storytelling. He later pursued a degree in English literature at the University of York, where he was a member of Vanbrugh College. Following his university studies, he moved to London and worked as a literary editor for the publishing house Walker Books.
Twenty questions, eight minutes on the clock, and a percentile measured against everyone who has taken it. No sign-up.
Take the IQ test →The Bartimaeus Sequence
During the 1990s, Stroud began publishing his own work. His breakout success came with the Bartimaeus series, which earned him the 2007 Grand Prix de l'Imaginaire and the 2006 Mythopoeic Fantasy Award for Children's Literature. The series comprises The Amulet of Samarkand, The Golem's Eye, Ptolemy's Gate, and the prequel The Ring of Solomon. These novels distinguish themselves by using the perspective of a sarcastic djinni to critique class hierarchies and the ethics of magician authority.
Lockwood & Co. and Recent Output
In 2013, Stroud introduced his ghost-hunter series set in a supernatural version of England with The Screaming Staircase. The series continued with The Whispering Skull, The Hollow Boy, The Creeping Shadow, and concluded with The Empty Grave in 2017. Netflix adapted the series for television, with filming beginning in London during July 2021. More recently, he has authored The Outlaws Scarlett and Browne, a series focused on the exploits of two outlaws.
Fast facts
- Born: 1970, Bedford, United Kingdom
- Education: University of York
- Notable Series: The Bartimaeus Sequence
- Notable Series: Lockwood & Co.
- 2007 Award: Grand Prix de l'Imaginaire
- 2006 Award: Mythopoeic Fantasy Award
- Language: English
- Occupation: Novelist and literary editor
Questions readers ask
What is the premise of Lockwood & Co.?
It depicts a ghost-hunting agency operating within a version of England ravaged by spirits.
What themes appear in Stroud's writing?
His work often employs satire and magical settings to explore themes such as class struggle and power dynamics.
Achievements
- Notable work: The Bartimaeus Sequence
- Notable work: Lockwood & Co.
- Genres: fantasy
