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Last Updated: Saturday, 13 January 2007, 13:32 GMT
Pullman given freedom of Oxford
Philip Pullman
Philip Pullman has based many of his books in Oxford
Author Philip Pullman is to be granted the Freedom of the City of Oxford.

Pullman, whose bestselling trilogy His Dark Materials was about an Oxford girl, will be honoured at a ceremony on 24 January.

The Amber Spyglass, which is part of the trilogy, was the first children's book to win the Whitbread Prize.

The author, who lives in Cumnor, said: "I am immensely gratified that the city I've made my home has found my work worth rewarding."

Lord Mayor Jim Campbell said: "Oxford has an astonishingly rich tradition of children's story telling, and Philip Pullman is a worthy successor to Lewis Carroll and C S Lewis.

"We are pleased to be able to confer the freedom of the city on someone who has given so much enjoyment to children, and adults, all over the world."




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