orig. Madeleine L'Engle Camp
born Nov. 29, 1918, New York, N.Y., U.S.
U.S. author of children's books.
L'Engle pursued a career in theatre before publishing her first book, The Small Rain (1945). In A Wrinkle in Time (1962), she introduced a group of children who engage in a cosmic battle against a great evil; their adventures continue in A Swiftly Tilting Planet (1978) and other books. Her works often explore such themes as the conflict of good and evil, the nature of God, individual responsibility, and family life. She also has written adult fiction, poetry, and autobiography.