Lloyd Chudley Alexander was an American author who wrote more than 40 books over a seven-decade career, primarily fantasy novels for children and young adults. His work was translated into 20 languages, reaching audiences across the globe. Alexander's most famous work is The Chronicles of Prydain, a series of five high fantasy novels. The final book in the series, The High King, was awarded the Newbery Medal in 1969, one of the most prestigious awards for children's literature in America. Beyond this series, Alexander's contributions to the field were recognized with U.S. National Book Awards in both 1971 and 1982.