Irish writer beats Dahl to Britain’s favourite Puffin book

ARTEMIS FOWL, the tale of a young criminal mastermind, was named the Britain’s all-time favourite Puffin book.

Wexford-born Eoin Colfer’s work was voted the ultimate “Puffin of Puffins” in a readers’ poll – and the author described it as “my proudest professional moment”.

More than 10,000 votes were cast online – and Colfer’s best-selling story of child prodigy Artemis Fowl came out on top with a landslide 68% of the vote.

Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory was in second place with 13%.

Colfer said: “I am beyond thrilled by this result.

“To be chosen by Puffin as a modern classic is a huge honour as it would be for any writer.

“For Artemis be in a collection with Stig and Charlie is a huge thrill, but to win a public vote as well, it’s like two birthdays in one go. I have to say that this is my proudest professional moment. Thank you, voters.”

The vote was held to celebrate the children’s publisher’s 70th anniversary and the re-launch of the Puffin Modern Classics series.

Readers selected their favourite book from seven Modern Classic titles, one from each decade of Puffin’s existence.

The titles were The Family from One End Street by Eve Garnett (1940s), Charlotte’s Web by EB White (1950s), Stig of the Dump by Clive King (1960s), Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Dahl (1970s), Goodnight Mister Tom by Michelle Magorian (1980s), The Hundred-Mile-An- Hour Dog by Jeremy Strong (1990s) and Artemis Fowl by Colfer (2000s).

Worldwide sales of the Artemis Fowl titles have topped about 20 million.