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Maurice Richardson

March 10, 2023

Maurice Richardson (1907–1978) was an English journalist and short story writer.[1]

Life and career

Richardson was born to a wealthy family.[2] As a child, Richardson was sent to prep school, which he disliked; he later recalled his education in his 1968 book Little Victims.[2][3] He studied at Oxford in the 1920s, where he befriended the poet Brian Howard.[4] After leaving Oxford, he spent some time as an amateur boxer, and wrote his first novel, A Strong Man Needed, a humorous story about a female boxer.[5] Richardson began his journalistic career in the 1930s. After joining the Communist Party,[2] Richardson became a contributor to Left Review[6] and a member of the London-based left-wing Writers and Readers Group which included Randall Swingler, Sylvia Townsend Warner, Mulk Raj Anand, Arthur Calder-Marshall and Rose Macaulay.[7]

In the late 1940s, Richardson became a contributor to the British magazine Lilliput. Here he published a series of humorous fantasy stories about a "Dwarf Surrealist Boxer" named Engelbrecht.[1][8] These tales were illustrated by several noted artists, including Ronald Searle, Gerard Hoffnung and James Boswell.[8] The series was collected in book form as The Exploits of Engelbrecht in 1950;[1] it was later reprinted in 1977 and in a deluxe edition by Savoy Books in 2000.[9] David Langford has praised The Exploits of Engelbrecht for their "enjoyable absurdist humour";[1] J. G. Ballard also admired the stories, describing them as "English surrealism at its greatest. Witty and fantastical, Maurice Richardson was light years ahead of his time. Unmissable."[10]

After leaving the Communist Party in the 1950s,[2] Richardson worked as a book reviewer. Richardson also became known for arranging meetings between himself and other writers in London pubs. Guests at these meetings included Jeffrey Bernard, Daniel Farson, Swingler, Lionel Bart, Frank Norman and Alan Rawsthorne.[11] In the 1960s, he also worked as the Observer's television critic[12][13] and wrote sports journalism for The Guardian.[10] Richardson also wrote a study of snakes, lizards and other reptiles entitled The Fascination of Reptiles.[14]

After Richardson's death, a posthumous collection of journalism, Fits and Starts, was issued. Reviewing Fits and Starts, Mary Manning praised the book, particularly Richardson's essay on the Moors murders, which she described as "a masterpiece in this genre".[2]

Bibliography

Fiction

  • A Strong Man Needed (1931)
  • My Bones will keep (1932)
  • The Bad Companions (1936)
  • The Exploits of Engelbrecht, abstracted from the Chronicles of the Surrealist Sportsman's Club (1950)
  • Underworld Nights (1956) (published under the pseudonym Charles Raven)

Non-Fiction

  • London's Burning: An account of the experiences of an Auxiliary Fireman (1941).
  • Thanatos : a modern symposium (with Philip Toynbee) (1963)
  • Little Victims (1968)
  • The Fascination of Reptiles (Illustrated by Shaun Milne ) (1973)
  • Fits & starts : Collected Pieces (introduction by Julian Symons)

As editor

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d The Encyclopedia of Fantasy. p. 812. ISBN 1-85723-893-1.
  2. ^ a b c d e "Odd Man Out", Mary Manning,Irish Times, 4 August 1978 (p.11) Review of Fits and Starts.
  3. ^ Leinster-Mackay, Donald P. (1984). The Rise of the English Prep School. Taylor & Francis. p. 161. ISBN 978-0-905273-74-7.
  4. ^ Taylor, edited by Marie-Jaqueline Lancaster with an introduction by D.J. (2005). Brian Howard : portrait of a failure. London: Timewell Press. p. 120. ISBN 1-85725-211-X. {{cite book}}: |first1= has generic name (help)
  5. ^ "Books in Brief" Irish Independent, 19 October 1931, (p.4). Review of A Strong Man Needed.
  6. ^ Weatherhead, Andrew Kingsley (1975). Stephen Spender and the Thirties. Bucknell University Press. p. 100. ISBN 0-8387-1370-X.
  7. ^ Croft, Andy (2003). Comrade Heart A Life of Randall Swingler. Manchester University Press. p. 71. ISBN 978-0-7190-6334-3.
  8. ^ a b Cawthorn, James; Moorcock, Michael (1988). Fantasy The 100 Best Books. Xanadu Publications. pp. 139–140. ISBN 0-947761-24-1.
  9. ^ Drake, Temple; Kerekes, David (2004). Headpress Guide to the Counter Culture A Sourcebook for Modern Readers. Critical Vision. pp. 250–1. ISBN 978-1-900486-35-4.
  10. ^ a b From the Vault "Two knockout accounts of the Cooper – Ali rematch", 22 May 1966. Report on the event by Hugh McIlvanney and Maurice Richardson. The Guardian, 23 May 2008. Retrieved 4 January 2013.
  11. ^ Croft, (p.246).
  12. ^ Rixon, Paul (2011). Critics and Popular Culture: A History of British Television Criticism. I.B.Tauris. pp. 81, 88, 93. ISBN 978-1-84885-319-5.
  13. ^ Chapman, James (2002). Saints and Avengers British Adventure Series of the 1960s. I.B.Tauris. p. 142. ISBN 978-1-86064-754-3.
  14. ^ "Book Review: The Fascination of Reptiles". Pittsburgh Press, 21 March 1974, (p.115).

External links

March 10, 2023
maurice, richardson, 1907, 1978, english, journalist, short, story, writer, contents, life, career, bibliography, fiction, fiction, editor, also, references, external, linkslife, career, editrichardson, born, wealthy, family, child, richardson, sent, prep, sch. Maurice Richardson 1907 1978 was an English journalist and short story writer 1 Contents 1 Life and career 2 Bibliography 2 1 Fiction 2 2 Non Fiction 2 3 As editor 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksLife and career EditRichardson was born to a wealthy family 2 As a child Richardson was sent to prep school which he disliked he later recalled his education in his 1968 book Little Victims 2 3 He studied at Oxford in the 1920s where he befriended the poet Brian Howard 4 After leaving Oxford he spent some time as an amateur boxer and wrote his first novel A Strong Man Needed a humorous story about a female boxer 5 Richardson began his journalistic career in the 1930s After joining the Communist Party 2 Richardson became a contributor to Left Review 6 and a member of the London based left wing Writers and Readers Group which included Randall Swingler Sylvia Townsend Warner Mulk Raj Anand Arthur Calder Marshall and Rose Macaulay 7 In the late 1940s Richardson became a contributor to the British magazine Lilliput Here he published a series of humorous fantasy stories about a Dwarf Surrealist Boxer named Engelbrecht 1 8 These tales were illustrated by several noted artists including Ronald Searle Gerard Hoffnung and James Boswell 8 The series was collected in book form as The Exploits of Engelbrecht in 1950 1 it was later reprinted in 1977 and in a deluxe edition by Savoy Books in 2000 9 David Langford has praised The Exploits of Engelbrecht for their enjoyable absurdist humour 1 J G Ballard also admired the stories describing them as English surrealism at its greatest Witty and fantastical Maurice Richardson was light years ahead of his time Unmissable 10 After leaving the Communist Party in the 1950s 2 Richardson worked as a book reviewer Richardson also became known for arranging meetings between himself and other writers in London pubs Guests at these meetings included Jeffrey Bernard Daniel Farson Swingler Lionel Bart Frank Norman and Alan Rawsthorne 11 In the 1960s he also worked as the Observer s television critic 12 13 and wrote sports journalism for The Guardian 10 Richardson also wrote a study of snakes lizards and other reptiles entitled The Fascination of Reptiles 14 After Richardson s death a posthumous collection of journalism Fits and Starts was issued Reviewing Fits and Starts Mary Manning praised the book particularly Richardson s essay on the Moors murders which she described as a masterpiece in this genre 2 Bibliography EditFiction Edit A Strong Man Needed 1931 My Bones will keep 1932 The Bad Companions 1936 The Exploits of Engelbrecht abstracted from the Chronicles of the Surrealist Sportsman s Club 1950 Underworld Nights 1956 published under the pseudonym Charles Raven Non Fiction Edit London s Burning An account of the experiences of an Auxiliary Fireman 1941 Thanatos a modern symposium with Philip Toynbee 1963 Little Victims 1968 The Fascination of Reptiles Illustrated by Shaun Milne 1973 Fits amp starts Collected Pieces introduction by Julian Symons As editor Edit Novels of Mystery from the Victorian Age 1945 Contains Sheridan Le Fanu Carmilla Anon The Notting Hill Mystery Wilkie Collins The Woman in White Robert Louis Stevenson Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde Midnight Tales by W F Harvey 1946 Best Mystery Stories 1968 Old Saint Paul s by William Harrison Ainsworth 1968 See also EditList of short story authorsReferences Edit a b c d The Encyclopedia of Fantasy p 812 ISBN 1 85723 893 1 a b c d e Odd Man Out Mary Manning Irish Times 4 August 1978 p 11 Review of Fits and Starts Leinster Mackay Donald P 1984 The Rise of the English Prep School Taylor amp Francis p 161 ISBN 978 0 905273 74 7 Taylor edited by Marie Jaqueline Lancaster with an introduction by D J 2005 Brian Howard portrait of a failure London Timewell Press p 120 ISBN 1 85725 211 X a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a first1 has generic name help Books in Brief Irish Independent 19 October 1931 p 4 Review of A Strong Man Needed Weatherhead Andrew Kingsley 1975 Stephen Spender and the Thirties Bucknell University Press p 100 ISBN 0 8387 1370 X Croft Andy 2003 Comrade Heart A Life of Randall Swingler Manchester University Press p 71 ISBN 978 0 7190 6334 3 a b Cawthorn James Moorcock Michael 1988 Fantasy The 100 Best Books Xanadu Publications pp 139 140 ISBN 0 947761 24 1 Drake Temple Kerekes David 2004 Headpress Guide to the Counter Culture A Sourcebook for Modern Readers Critical Vision pp 250 1 ISBN 978 1 900486 35 4 a b From the Vault Two knockout accounts of the Cooper Ali rematch 22 May 1966 Report on the event by Hugh McIlvanney and Maurice Richardson The Guardian 23 May 2008 Retrieved 4 January 2013 Croft p 246 Rixon Paul 2011 Critics and Popular Culture A History of British Television Criticism I B Tauris pp 81 88 93 ISBN 978 1 84885 319 5 Chapman James 2002 Saints and Avengers British Adventure Series of the 1960s I B Tauris p 142 ISBN 978 1 86064 754 3 Book Review The Fascination of Reptiles Pittsburgh Press 21 March 1974 p 115 External links EditMaurice Richardson at Library of Congress Authorities with 13 catalogue records Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Maurice Richardson amp oldid 1101871765, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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