Redwall Author‎ Brian Jacques Death?

Brian Jacques, the beloved British author of the Redwall series, died of a heart attack over the weekend at age 71.

Jacques had to have emergency surgery for an aortic aneurysm, a swelling on the heart’s main artery, but despite attempts to save him his death took place at Royal Liverpool hospital on Saturday night.

His other books include the Castaways of the Flying Dutchman series, two short fiction collections, and picture books for younger children.

What inspired Brian Jacques to write Redwall and when did he start to write it?

Jacques came up with the concept behind "Redwall" while he was working as truck driver. One of his stops was at a school for the blind, whom he wrote a book for. He created a story filled with detail and description for that specific audience.

Brian Jacques' Redwall series of books were translated into 29 languages and sold 20 million copies globally.

Jacques wrote 21 Redwall novels as well as running a radio show on BBC Radio for 20 years. His novels were turned into a both a television series and an opera.

Brian Jacques was by all accounts a charming and personable fellow. An entire generation has grown to adulthood reading the Redwall books.