If you are a fan of Susan Cooper, you have to read this book. Dreams and Wishes is a collection of essays starting with the Newbery Award acceptance speech in 1976 (Seeing Around Corners), through her son's graduation address (More Light Than Darkness), An Interview with a University Professor and an examination of Children and others who read Children's books - people like you and me (Who Are the Children?).

This book is full of insights into Susan Cooper's background, the writing of the Dark Is Rising series and her other books for children. Dreams and Wishes will answer all of those questions you've always wanted to ask and a whole lot more. I am truly enamoured by Dreams and Wishes. The following page provides a synopsis of the chapters in the book.

In The Beginning

An introduction to the book. The introduction describes how she met Hume Cronyn and Jessica Tandy (to whom the book is dedicated). It also describes Susan's 'coming out' into the world of Children's Literature when her book, The Dark Is Rising, was nominated as the Newbery Honour Book in 1973.

Seeing Around Corners, 1976

Susan Cooper's acceptance speech for The Newbery Award in 1976. This essay explains how Susan came to write the Dark Is Rising sequence. It also answers that often asked question: "Where do you get your ideas?"

Talent Has Two Faces, 1977

A talk for the 6th Annual Festival of Excellence in Children's Books. This essay is about the nature of the English Language and the way in which it can move you like nothing else. It also includes a humorous piece on Susan's defence of her art as well as stressing the importance of Children's literature.

Take Them to the Theatre, 1979

An article written for 'Parent's Choice' which suggests that Children are not too young to enjoy the theatre - even Shakespeare (but perhaps not Chekov)!

Nahum Tarune's Book, 1980

A talk given at Simmon's College, University of Oxford, England. This essay looks at what Susan calls "one of the most remarkable books in the English language" and a deep source of influence for her. The book is Walter de la Mare's 'Come Hither'. It also looks at other books and the elements of fantasy that shape her own writing.

Escaping Into Ourselves, 1981

An article for 'Celebrating Children's Books: Essays on Children's Literature in Honour of Zena Sutherland'. This articles looks at the joy of reading. It also includes extracts from Susan's working 'notebooks' while writing the Dark Is Rising series. These extracts give a unique insight into her imagination and the writing of the books.

More Light Than Darkness, 1984

The address given at the graduation ceremony of Susan's son, Jonathan. The address, as Susan notes, "is about growing up."

Fantasy in the Real World, 1988

The Anne Carrol Lecture for 1988, given at the New York Public Library. A look at the stuff of fantasy writing and its place in the modern world, this essay takes a sideways glance at the nature of America. It also looks at the stuff of myth and legend.

Long Ago and Far Away, 1989

A talk for the Children's Literature of New England institute that looks at the nature of time, the history of Britain and how that history invaded Susan's imagination and bubbled over into her books. It also looks at the complexity of time and the treatment of it in the Dark Is Rising Series of books as well as other fantasy novels for Children. There is also a lot of background to the landscape of the Dark Is Rising here.

Moving On, 1990

A talk for the Children's Literature of New England institute. This talk looks at how places and events shape and mould one's imagination. Here Susan gives an insight into her own backgrounds: her childhood home in Buckinghamshire, the North Wales of her grandmother and her home in America. Primarily this talk looks at the sense of the place called 'home'.

Worlds Apart, 1992

A talk for the Children's Literature of New England institute. The nature of the settings for books are looked at in this essay. Susan tells us what it is to write fantasy and how she transports herself into the world of her books as she writes; her 'world apart'. There are also comments on other Children's writing in this essay.

Who Are the Children?, 1995

The Zena Sutherland Lecture, given at the Chicago Public Library looks at the concept of 'Children's writing' and the nature of Children who read books: "the keepers of the imagination" as Susan describes them - us.

Swords and Ploughshares, 1993

A talk for the Children's Literature of New England institute. This talk looks at he nature of war and gives a unique insight into childhood in Britain during the Second World War from Susan's own background. It also looks at the nature of the battle of Good and Evil, Dark and Light.

A Plea for the Book, 1993

A talk for the 11th Annual Authors Symposium. This talk looks at the importance of reading, the joy of reading and the need for its place in schools and in life.

The Alphabet Pedlar, 1994

A talk for the Children's Literature of New England institute looks creativity in writing and the capacity of the child to read and absorb "pictures and stories that will affect him or her, consciously or unconsciously , for the rest of life. It also looks at a book from Susan's childhood, 'Perkin the Pedlar' by Eleanor Farjeon.

An Interview, 1989

This chapter is what it says it is! An interview given in 1989, particularly looks at the Arthurian legend that permeates the Dark Is Rising series. It also provides some fascinating insights into the settings for the DR series and the imagination that shaped these books.