He is now believed to have used his own sperm to sire perhaps 600 of the children his clinic helped to be born. Her father, Bertold Paul Wiesner, was a physician who pioneered human infertility treatment. Wiesner was born in Vienna in 1925 to non-practising Jewish parents. Her last book, The Abominables, was among four finalists for the same award in 2012. She was a finalist for the 2010 Guardian Prize at the time of her death.

The historical novel Journey to the River Sea (Macmillan, 2001) won her the Smarties Prize in category 9–11 years, garnered an unusual commendation as runner-up for the Guardian Prize, and made the Carnegie, Whitbread, and Blue Peter shortlists. Some of her novels for adults have been reissued for the young adult market. She is known for her children's literature. Magic Flutes was originally published as The Reluctant Heiress.Paul Newham and Barry Stevens (half-brothers)Įva Maria Charlotte Michelle Ibbotson (née Wiesner born 21 January 1925 – 20 October 2010) was a British novelist born in Austria to a Jewish family who fled the Nazis. Rediscover Eva Ibbotson, award-winning author of Journey to the River Sea, in her sweeping historical romances, including The Morning Gift, A Song For Summer, The Secret Countess (originally published as A Countess Below Stairs), Madensky Square and A Company of Swans. her elegantly written, witty and well-observed fables' Nigella Lawson, The Times Disguising herself simply as Tessa, she enrolls as under wardrobe mistress of the International Opera Company and soon loses herself in the intoxicating world of the Viennese opera.īut when Guy Farne, an Englishman looking to impress his new fiance, arrives in Austria and employs the Company to perform at his newly purchased Austrian estate, he finds himself fascinated by the under wardrobe mistress, and Tessa finds it increasingly difficult to keep her two lives separate. In the spring of 1922, young Austrian Princess Theresa-Maria – known to her ancient aunts as 'Putzerl' – abandons her crumbling castle and her royal duties. Sweeping across countries, class and music, Eva Ibboton's classic historical romance, Magic Flutes, is a richly imagined tale of intrigue and identity, with a new introduction from Harriet Evans.

The reluctant heiress eva ibbotson