City bestows rare award on Pullman

8:12pm Thursday 11th January 2007

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Author Philip Pullman, best known for the children's fantasy trilogy His Dark Materials, is to be awarded the Freedom of Oxford.

Mr Pullman, who lives in Cumnor and has published more than 20 books, will receive the rare honour for his literary work at a ceremony in Oxford Town Hall later this month.

Describing Oxford as his "inspiration", he joins a select list of just five modern-day recipients of the honour, which is purely honorary and carries no special privileges.

Mr Pullman said: "I am delighted and honoured to receive the Freedom of Oxford, the city which has been the inspiration for a great deal of my work.

"Oxford is a city that is steeped in storytelling."

See oxfordmail.net tomorrow for the full story.