Henry Williamson

Henry Williamson ( born December 1, 1895 in London, † August 13, 1977 ) was a British writer. In Germany almost unknown, enjoys a portion of his work in England, particularly nature novels such as Tarka the Otter (translated into German ) and Salar the Salmon, very popular.

Life and work

Williamson was born in 1895 in London's Brockley. The rural area in which he grew up, meant that he developed a love of nature in childhood that would greatly influence his literary work.

The First World War shook him and made him a pacifist. Even these impressions found their way into his work, especially in A Chronicle of Ancient Sunlight (1951-1969), a book series, the lives of the fictional character Philip Maddison, a kind of alter ego, depicts from birth and a kind of autobiography of the author is.

1927 appeared to be today 's best-known book, Tarka the Otter. The story was made ​​into successful films in 1979; his son Harry created in 1988 along with Anthony Phillips ( known as the original guitarist for Genesis) is a suite for orchestra and guitars, which is based on the book.

1935 Williamson visited the Nazi Party Rally in Nuremberg and was impressed by the Hitler Youth ( which he wrote in The Phoenix Generation, 1936). He was a lifelong admirer of Hitler. In 1937 he became a member of the British Fascist Party British Union of Fascists, led by Oswald Mosley.

When the war started, he was interned because of his fascist views for a short time after the national protection measures "Regulation 18B ".

Williamson published more than fifty books, most of which are now forgotten. He died in August 1977 from dementia and was Georgeham, Devon, buried. In 1980 a Henry Williamson Society was founded.

Works (selection)

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