| By Luci Cummings Both adults and children gathered to hear children's authors Philip Pullman and Adèle Geras, and Children's Laureate Michael Morpurgo discuss their craft. But should they be categorised as children's authors - or should such distinctions be dispensed with entirely? Chair Nicolette Jones, Sunday Times children's literature critic led the discussion. War, sex and death are all a part of children's literature today; increasing numbers of adults are now reading children's fiction and publishers regularly produce 'adult' covers to encourage the crossover trend. So why bother to create the division at all? Michael Morpurgo, author of the recent novel 'Private Peaceful' (about the horrors of the First World War) stated that it is the quality of the work which is important, regardless of the target audience. He cited Pullman's 'His Dark Materials' trilogy, read by children and adults alike, as an example of this. Philip Pullman blamed publishers for the creation of artificial age boundaries, stating that the bureaucracy of publishing was the real issue. When asked whether the complex themes of 'His Dark Materials' were too difficult for children, he said that children were willing to be as confused as the main character of the book, until that character is enlightened. The limitations of writing for children were a constant theme during the debate. The panellists admitted to having little or no thought of an intended audience while writing. All denied the need for self-censorship in this context. Morpurgo commented that a tale told passionately and well should interest all ages. All the panellists seemed to agree on this point. The debate concluded with poignant readings by Morpurgo of 'O What is That Sound?' by W.H. Auden and 'The Birds Began to Sing' by Janet Frame. The awed attention of children in the audience was proof that literature can cross either way over these blurred boundaries.
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