Colin Dann is an English author best known for his bestselling children’s fiction series The Animals of Farthing Wood, a story of woodland animals banding together for survival that went on to inspire a beloved BBC animated series. His work is celebrated for its themes of tolerance, cooperation, and the fight to protect the natural world, making him one of the most enduring voices in British children’s animal fiction.
Who Is Colin Dann?
Colin Dann is a British author whose writing has become a landmark of children’s animal literature. He was born in Richmond, Surrey (now part of London), on 10 March 1943. He attended his local grammar school before beginning his working life, and it was his deep love of books that eventually led him into a career in publishing.
He is known for:
- Creating The Animals of Farthing Wood, his most famous and enduring work
- Writing six sequels and a prequel that expanded the Farthing Wood world
- Winning the Arts Council of Great Britain’s National Award for Children’s Literature
- Writing further animal-centred fiction beyond the Farthing Wood series
- Blending adventure, peril, and gentle humour with strong environmental themes
- Giving voice and personality to a wide cast of woodland and wild animal characters
Early Life and Family Background
Colin Dann grew up in Richmond, Surrey, and was educated at his local grammar school. Unlike many authors who move directly from education into writing, Dann’s path into literature came gradually, shaped first by an early working life outside publishing and later by an opportunity in the book trade that would change the course of his career.
Education and Early Interests
After leaving grammar school, Dann did not go straight into writing. He first worked for a large textile company, a world removed from books and storytelling. It was only when his genuine passion — his love of books — led him into publishing that his literary path began to take shape.
During this period, he developed a strong interest in:
- Books and the world of publishing
- The natural world and wildlife
- Storytelling built around animal characters
- Themes of survival, home, and community
- The English countryside as a backdrop for adventure
Beginning of Colin Dann’s Writing Career
Dann’s career in books began not as an author but as a publishing professional. He joined the firm William Collins, Sons & Co., where he worked for thirteen years, including time as a manager in the company’s Fontana paperback division. It was during these years inside the publishing world that he wrote his first novel.
His early career included:
- Thirteen years working at William Collins, Sons & Co.
- Managing within the Fontana paperback division
- Writing his first novel, The Animals of Farthing Wood, while still working in publishing
- Developing his storytelling craft from the inside of the book industry itself
Colin Dann’s Literary Career
Colin Dann became widely recognised with the 1979 publication of The Animals of Farthing Wood, the story of a fox who leads a community of woodland animals away from their threatened home in search of safety elsewhere. The book was an immediate success, and Dann went on to build an entire series around its characters and world.
His stories frequently include:
- A community of animals forced to face the destruction of their home
- A fox as a central, guiding figure among the animal characters
- Themes of tolerance, cooperation, and unity in adversity
- Real dangers such as fire, storms, and river crossings
- A strong environmental undercurrent about humans and nature
- A mix of heart-warming and heart-wrenching moments
Major Works of Colin Dann
The Animals of Farthing Wood Published on 12 November 1979, this is Dann’s first and most famous novel. It tells the story of Fox, Badger, Toad, Tawny Owl, Mole, and other animals whose wood is being bulldozed amid a drought, forcing them to leave their ancestral home and journey to a distant nature reserve.
The Sequels and Prequel Following the success of the original book, Dann wrote six further sequels along with a prequel, continuing the story of the Farthing Wood animals and expanding the world he had created.
Other Animal Fiction Beyond the Farthing Wood series, Dann continued writing animal-focused stories, including a sequence of novels centred on a pride of African lions.
The Animals of Farthing Wood TV Series
In 1992, a major animated series based on Dann’s books was broadcast by the BBC. Produced across three series and 39 episodes between 1993 and 1995, the show became hugely popular with children across Britain and Europe, introducing a new generation of viewers to the world Dann had created on the page.
Themes in Colin Dann’s Books
Colin Dann’s writing consistently returns to a set of recurring themes.
Home and displacement: His stories often begin with a community losing its home and being forced to find a new one.
Tolerance and cooperation: Animals of very different natures must work together to survive.
Environmental concern: Human development and its impact on the natural world sit at the heart of his best-known story.
Courage in adversity: Characters face real, sometimes life-threatening dangers on their journeys.
Community and friendship: Bonds formed between very different characters carry the emotional weight of his stories.
Writing Style of Colin Dann
Colin Dann’s writing is known for grounding fantastical, talking-animal storytelling in real emotional stakes and genuine peril. His prose favours warmth balanced with tension, following a diverse cast of animal characters as they rely on each other’s different strengths and limitations to survive.
Some notable features of his writing include:
- A large, distinct cast of animal characters, each with their own personality
- Genuine peril balanced with hope and warmth
- A strong environmental and conservation-minded undertone
- Adventure structured around a long journey or quest
- Accessible storytelling that has appealed to readers across generations
Why Is Colin Dann Important?
Colin Dann is significant for creating one of the most enduring animal adventure stories in British children’s literature, one that has remained in print for over four decades and reached new audiences through television.
His contributions include:
- Creating The Animals of Farthing Wood, a National Award-winning children’s book
- Writing six sequels and a prequel that built out its world
- Inspiring a major BBC animated series watched across Britain and Europe
- Helping popularise environmentally conscious storytelling for young readers
- Contributing further animal fiction beyond the Farthing Wood series
Personal Life of Colin Dann
Colin Dann lives with his wife and their cat in a converted Oast house on the Kent/Sussex border. To relax, he enjoys long walks in the countryside, reading, and listening to music. His favourite book is The Count of Monte Cristo, Winnie the Pooh is his favourite character, and Bill Bryson is among his preferred authors.
Interesting Facts About the Author
- Colin Dann was born in Richmond, Surrey, on 10 March 1943.
- He worked for a large textile company before entering publishing.
- He spent thirteen years at William Collins, Sons & Co., including as a manager in its Fontana paperback division.
- His first novel, The Animals of Farthing Wood, was published in 1979 and has never been out of print.
- The book won the Arts Council of Great Britain’s National Award for Children’s Literature.
FAQs
Who is Colin Dann?
Colin Dann is an English author best known for The Animals of Farthing Wood, a children’s series about a community of woodland animals forced to find a new home.
What is Colin Dann famous for?
He is famous for writing The Animals of Farthing Wood, which inspired a major BBC animated series broadcast in the 1990s.
When was Colin Dann born?
Colin Dann was born on 10 March 1943, in Richmond, Surrey.
What was Colin Dann’s first novel?
His first novel was The Animals of Farthing Wood, published in 1979, which became the opening book of his best-known series.
Conclusion
Colin Dann remains one of the most recognisable names in British children’s animal fiction. Through The Animals of Farthing Wood and its sequels, he combined genuine environmental concern with warmth, adventure, and an unforgettable cast of characters a legacy that has carried his work from the page to the screen and kept it in print for more than forty years.