Back in the mid 80s a man wrote a story about an abbey full of woodland creatures and their adventures to read to children at a blind school. A friend of his read the story and thought it was so good it should be published and sent it to be published without telling the author. It became a huge success and Brian Jacques was soon in demand to write more tales of Redwall. Last year saw the release of the final Redwall book - The Rogue Crew, being the 22nd full length Redwall novel. It was the last as sadly Brian Jacques passed away in 2011.

I was introduced to his books in the early 1990s as a child in my last year of primary school. Another friend had read Redwall and had been fascinated by it. I was an avid reader and fell in love with the fictional world Jacques created. Set in a animal kingdom resembling the UK, populated with creatures such as mice, squirrels, voles, otters, moles (who talk in West Country accents) and a mystical extinct volcano fortress ruled by warrior badger lords and ladies and their devoted army of Long Patrol hares. Vermin of all kinds have tormented these creatures since time began, sea rats, weasels, ferrets, wildcats...

The books tell tales of good over evil, combine humour with bravery, poetry, and a great narrative.

In order of publication:

1. Redwall
2. Mossflower
3. Mattimeo
4. Mariel of Redwall
5. Salamandastron
7. Martin the Warrior
7. The Bellmaker
8. Outcast of Redwall
9. Pearls of Lutra
10. The Long Patrol
11. Marlfox
12. Legend of Luke
13. Lord Brocktree
14. The Taggerung
15. Triss
16. Loamhedge
17. Rakkety Tam
18. High Rhulain
19. Eulalia
20. Doomwyte
21. The Sable Quean
22. The Rogue Crew

He has also produced several companion books:

The Great Redwall Feast
Redwall - A Winters Tale
Redwall - A Graphic Novel
The Redwall Cookbook
Redwall Friend and Foe
Redwall Tribes - Mice
Redwall Tribes - Otters
Redwall Tribes - Badgers
Build Your Own Redwall Abbey

Brian also wrote other books:

Seven Strange and Ghostly Tales
The Ribbajack

And a trilogy around a orphan boy and his dog who end up aboard the Flying Dutchman and while the ship and its crew are cursed to sail forever, Ben and his dog Ned are spared the cruelty of this fate by an angel who gives them eternal youth to help others - providing them with a magical telepathic link together.

1. The Castaways of the Flying Dutchman
2. The Angels Command
3. The Voyage of Slaves

He also wrote two picture books about Urso Brunov - the Little Father of All Bears:

The Tale of Urso Brunov
Urso Brunov and the White Emperor

His is a talent that will be missed and I truly hope that more generations of children will read his books and love them and pass that onto their own children and that we don't lose sight of such great tales.