Malcolm Saville

Who was Malcolm Saville?

Leonard Malcolm Saville was an English author born in Hastings, Sussex. He is best known for the Lone Pine series of children's books, many of which are set in Shropshire. His work emphasises location, and the books including many vivid descriptions of English countryside, villages and sometimes towns.

Saville's writing career, from 1943 to 1982, was a diversion from his working life that began at Oxford University Press then continued as a publicist with Cassell & Co., Associated Press, and George Newnes. He was later the editor of two magazines, taking over one of these – the well-remembered Sunny Stories – from Enid Blyton when she left to set up her own magazine in direct competition. Several of his 90 books were serialised for broadcast on BBC radio, and his 1953 book The Ambermere Treasure, part of the Jillies series, was serialised by Associated-Rediffusion, the first commercial television company to broadcast in the United Kingdom, in late 1955 and early 1956; it was therefore one of the first ITV children's drama series.