Aylmer Hall | |
---|---|
Born | Norah Eleanor Lyle Cummins 24 April 1914 |
Died | 14 June 1987 | (aged 73)
Nationality | British |
Occupation | author |
Spouse | Robert Aylmer Hall |
Aylmer Hall was the pen name of Norah Eleanor Lyle Cummins [1] (born 24 April 1914). [2] She was the author of adventure stories for children written in the 1950s and 1960s. Her book The Tyrant King - A London Adventure was published by London Transport in 1967 with illustrations by Peter Roberson. The book inspired the TV series of the same name, directed by Mike Hodges. [3]
Hall was educated at St. Hugh's College, Oxford University where she earned a B.A. Honours in modern languages in 1935. [4] She worked as an assistant secretary in 1936, and then went on to become a librarian at the Royal Institute of International Affairs from 1937 to 1939. [4] From 1939 to 1940, she worked as a press librarian in the Ministry of Information. [4] Hall was married to Robert Aylmer Hall on 8 October 1938. [2] In addition to being a writer, Hall was also a historian. [5]
The Daily Herald in Chicago wrote that The Search for Lancelot's Sword (1960) is a "well told mystery story." [6] Kirkus Reviews wrote that her book about 1765 Ireland, Beware of Moonlight (1970) to have stereotyped characters and was "rambling, complicated and filled with hackneyed class-conscious poses." [7] Myles McDowell puts many of Hall's books into the " Boys' Own" era, and writes that these can seem dated to modern readers. [4]
Hall wrote ten books, most of them historical adventures, though some had contemporary settings.