Brian Jacques was an English author, born in Liverpool in 1939, who is best known for his Redwall series of children's fantasy novels. Despite his French-sounding last name, Jacques' family has no recorded French ancestry. Instead, his roots can be traced back to County Cork, Ireland. As a child, Jacques grew up in the area around the Liverpool docks and developed an early interest in adventure stories through the works of authors such as Daniel Defoe, Sir Henry Rider Haggard, and Robert Louis Stevenson.
Jacques' talent for writing was first recognized at the age of ten, during his first day at St. John's School. When given an assignment to write a story about animals, he wrote about a bird who cleaned a crocodile's teeth. His teacher refused to believe that a ten-year-old could write so well and caned him as a "liar" when he refused to admit to copying the story. This experience made Jacques realize that he had a talent for writing, a talent that he would later use to create the beloved Redwall series.
Jacques originally wrote Redwall for blind children he met while delivering milk as a truck driver. He made his style of writing as descriptive as possible, painting vivid pictures with words to help the children visualize the story in their minds. He remained a patron of the Royal Wavertree School for the Blind in Liverpool until his death.
In addition to his writing, Jacques was also a well-known radio personality in his native Liverpool. He hosted "Jakestown" on BBC Radio Merseyside and was known for his comedy and wit, as well as his love of opera. When he wasn't writing or on the air, Jacques enjoyed walking his dog, completing crossword puzzles, and cooking his favorite dish, spaghetti and meatballs. He passed away in February 2011 due to a heart attack.