P. L. Travers (1899–1996)
Author of Mary Poppins
About the Author
Born in Australia to an Irish father and a Scottish mother, Helen Lyndon Goff aka. P. L. Travers was a voracious reader and began to write while she was still a child. She did some acting but quickly moved into literary and dramatic criticism; she wrote some highly respected poetry as well. show more However, it is her series of books for children, starting with Mary Poppins (1934), on which her fame rests. The prim, kindly, and enchanting nanny takes charge of the Banks's household and brings the children a seemingly endless stream of fantasy adventures. The book was an immediate success. Walt Disney's (see Vol. 3) musical version, in 1964, brought the stories to an even wider audience. Subsequent books about Mary Poppins include Mary Poppins Comes Back, Mary Poppins Opens the Door, Mary Poppins in the Park, Mary Poppins from A to Z, and Mary Poppins and the House Next Door. Other more recent books include About Sleeping Beauty (1975) and Two Pair of Shoes (1980). Travers was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in 1977. She lived into advanced old age, but her health was declining toward the end of her life. Travers died in London on April 23,1996 at the age of 96. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
Image credit: Courtesy of the NYPL Digital Gallery (image use requires permission from the New York Public Library)
Series
Works by P. L. Travers
Mary Poppins / Mary Poppins Comes Back / Mary Poppins Opens the Door / Mary Poppins in the Park (2014) 438 copies
Mary Poppins Collection P L Travers 5 Books Set (Mary Poppins, Mary Poppins in the Park, Mary Poppins in Cherry Tree… (2016) 17 copies
Mary Poppins : [jutustus] 4 copies
Mary Poppins a Parkban 2 copies
Mary Poppins to open the door (Iwanami Bunko boy) (2002) ISBN: 4001140543 [Japanese Import] (2002) 2 copies
Mary Poppins and the Banks Family 2 copies
Ah Wong 2 copies
Mary Poppins in the Park (Iwanami Bunko boy) (2003) ISBN: 4001140551 [Japanese Import] (2003) 1 copy
Mary Poppins (picture Book) 1 copy
Mary Poppings 1 copy
By P. L. Travers - Mary Poppins - The Complete Collection (Includes all six stories in one volume) 1 copy
Die schönsten Kinderbuchklassiker: Limitierte Ausgabe im Schuber. Robinson Crusoe, Mary Poppins, Die Abenteuer des Tom… (2022) 1 copy
Mary Poppins frn̄ A till 1 copy
Happy ever after 1 copy
2017 1 copy
On Not Writing for Children 1 copy
Mary Poppins from A to Z 1 copy
Story of Mary Poppins 1 copy
Mary Poppins 1 copy
Mary Poppins in the Park 1 copy
Mary Poppins Comes Back 1 copy
Mary Poppins Opens the Door 1 copy
Mary Poppins öppnar dörren 1 copy
Associated Works
The Graphic Canon of Children's Literature: The World's Greatest Kids' Lit as Comics and Visuals (2014) — Contributor — 90 copies
Parabola: Myth and the Quest for Meaning, Vol. 7, No. 3: Ceremonies (1982) — Contributor — 10 copies
Cricket Magazine, Vol. 1, No. 4, December 1973 — Contributor — 4 copies
Tagged
Common Knowledge
- Canonical name
- Travers, P. L.
- Legal name
- Travers, Pamela Lyndon
- Other names
- Goff, Helen Lyndon (birth name)
- Birthdate
- 1899-08-09
- Date of death
- 1996-04-26
- Burial location
- St. Mary the Virgin's Church, Twickenham, England, UK
- Gender
- female
- Nationality
- Australia
- Birthplace
- Maryborough, Queensland, Australia
- Place of death
- London, England, UK
- Places of residence
- Maryborough, Queensland, Australia
Dublin, Ireland
London, England, UK
Bowral, New South Wales, Australia
New York, New York, USA
Allora, Queensland, Australia - Education
- Normanhurst Girls' School, Ashfield, Sydney, Australia
- Occupations
- dancer
actor
journalist
novelist
Writer-in-Residence, Harvard University - Relationships
- Travers, Camillus (son)
Butler, Hubert (friend) - Awards and honors
- Officer, Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (1977)
Members
Reviews
Mary Poppins is a classical modern fantasy book because it is fun and interesting to read. Children might relate to the story or gain new perspective of the story through their creative imagination. This book is great for elementary children when wanting to create an activity related to the book.
Mary Poppins returns, falling from the sky like a shooting star! Soon Mary and the kids are off on a new round of marvelous adventures. A visit to Mr. Twigley's music box-filled attic, an encounter with the Marble Boy, a ride on Miss Calico's enchanted candy canes--all part of an average day out with the world's most beloved nanny.
Pulled down from the clouds at the end of a kite string, Mary Poppins is back. In Mary's care, the Banks children meet the King of the Castle and the Dirty Rascal, visit the upside-down world of Mr. Turvy and his bride, Miss Topsy, and spend a breathless afternoon above the park, dangling from a clutch of balloons.
Lists
Overdue Podcast (1)
Female Author (1)
Comfort Reads (1)
Favourite Books (1)
Favorite Series (1)
1930s (2)
Christmas Books (2)
Ambleside Y2 (1)
Five star books (1)
Ambleside Books (1)
Nifty Fifties (1)
Awards
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Associated Authors
Statistics
- Works
- 84
- Also by
- 15
- Members
- 14,128
- Popularity
- #1,631
- Rating
- 3.9
- Reviews
- 236
- ISBNs
- 463
- Languages
- 27
- Favorited
- 14
This said, the magical adventures are brilliant, Mary Poppins' personality is quirky and not sweet-honey at all, and there is a strange air of eeriness around a couple of episodes, such as the abusive tiny candy-seller who psychologically tortures her gigantic daughters; Mary Poppins herself is half a self-enamoured teenager, half a mytical creature whose eon-ancient age is hinted at in more than one occasion. Definitely worth reading!… (more)