Russell Hoban (1925-2011) was an American novelist and children's writer. Born in Philadelphia, he was decorated for service in WWII. Working as a commercial illustrator and advertising copywriter, he achieved recognition for his popular Frances the Badger series from 1959, and in 1968 he published his first full-length book, The Mouse and His Child, widely regarded as a children's classic. In 1973 he published his first adult novel, The Lion of Boaz-Jachin and Jachin-Boaz. Other books followed and in 1980 he published Riddley Walker, the highly-acclaimed award-winning novel for which he was to become most renowned. Further novels followed including Pilgermann (1983) and The Medusa Frequency (1987). From the late 1990s to his death he published a new novel, including Amaryllis Night and Day (2001) and Linger Awhile (2006) almost annually. His last novel, Angelica Lost and Found, was published in 2010, while the much praised young-adult story Soonchild and the young children's book Rosie's Magic Horse were published posthumously, in March and October 2012 respectively.
