Yet another was Black Jack (1968), in which a young apprentice is forced by accident and his conscience to accompany a murderous criminal. Another was Smith (1967), with the eponymous hero a young pickpocket accepted into a wealthy household it won the Phoenix Award in 1987. Devil was the first of several historical adventure novels, typically set late in the eighteenth century and featuring a character of humble origins (in this case a boy from a family of traveling actors) pushed into the midst of a threatening intrigue. His second book, Devil-in-the-Fog (1966), won the first annual Guardian Prize and was serialised for television, as were several later works (below). In that form it was published by Constable in 1964. editor saw its potential as a children's novel and persuaded him to adapt it for a younger audience. Garfield wrote his first book, the pirate novel Jack Holborn, for adult readers but a Constable & Co. In 1964, the couple adopted a baby girl, called Jane after Jane Austen, a favourite writer of both parents. After the war Garfield worked as a biochemical laboratory technician at the Whittington Hospital in Islington, writing in his spare time until the 1960s, when he was successful enough to write full-time. She would also greatly influence Garfield's writing, giving him suggestions for his writing, including the original idea for Smith. While posted in Belgium he met Vivien Alcock, then an ambulance driver, who would go on to become his second wife (in 1948) and a well-known children's author. For his service in the war he joined the Royal Army Medical Corps.

He married Lena Leah Davies in April, 1941, at Golders Green Synagogue but they separated after only a few months. Garfield attended Brighton Grammar School (1932-1938) and went on to study art at Regent Street Polytechnic, but his studies were interrupted first by lack of funds for fees, then by the outbreak of World War II.

He wrote more than thirty books and scripted Shakespeare: The Animated Tales for television. He is best known for children's historical novels, though he also wrote for adults. Leon Garfield FRSL (14 July 1921 – 2 June 1996) was a British writer of fiction.

Jack Holborn by Leon Garfield