Anthony Rhodes
Encyclopedia
Anthony Rhodes was a British writer of memoirs, novels, travelogues, reviews and histories.
Rhodes was born in Plymouth, England and was the eldest of three sons of Dorothy and Colonel George Rhodes CBE. His early years were later spent at Lucknow and Delhi in India where his father served in the British Army. He was educated at Rugby School
and the Royal Military College
. Though his main interest was English literature he studied mechanical sciences at Trinity College, Cambridge where he obtained his degree in 1939.
Rhodes served in the British Army during World War II and was involved with retreat of the British Army from Dunkirk. He wrote of his war time experiences in the 1942 book “Sword of Bone”, in a style that reminded reviewers of Evelyn Waugh
. After being promoted to captain he lectured in Canada and the United States, where he met and married a niece of Gustav Mahler
. The marriage was short-lived and led to a nervous breakdown. He was invalided out of the Army 1945
In the early post-war years he taught at Geneva University whilst reading for a degree in Romance languages
.. He published in 1949 “The Uniform”, a satirical novel about “young society women who worshipped Hitler”. Though Rhodes was not a Roman Catholic he embarked on a pilgrimage during the Holy Year of 1950. His journey from Terni to Rome with a donkey was later recorded in his 1952 travel book “A Sabine Journey”. In 1952 he returned to England and taught romance languages at Eton College
. His novel “A Ball in Venice”, about a comic struggle between an Englishman, an American millionairess, an art critic, and the Communist mayor, was published in 1953. His novel “The Prophet's Carpet” struck a more sombre tone (1961) In it the character of Mr Sanderson tries to commercialise the Balkan state of "Blagoland" and this leads to conflict with a British consul who is determined to respect the peoples culture and Islamic faith. .
He married his second wife Rosaleen Forbes in 1956. Forbes had previously worked with General Edward Spears in Damascus and had been an ambulance driver across Africa, earning the Croix de Guerre
. The Rhodes became prominent figures in London's literary circles, with Rose Macaulay
, Arthur Koestler
, the Sitwells and other literary figures often in attendance at the parties they held in Lower Belgrave Street.
Rhodes went to Hungry when news broke of the uprising in 1956. He likely supplied British Intelligence with reports during this period as well as writing articles on the crisis for the Daily Telegraph. He recounted this period in his 1956 book “Journey to Budapest”. His biography of the 19th-century Italian writer and proto-Fascist Gabriele d'Annunzio
, was published in 1960 as “The Poet as Superman”. A biography of the French car manufacturer “Louis Renault”, who collaborated with Hitler, was published in 1969. ”
Rhodes translated several books such as "Egyptian and Ancient Eastern Painting" and the memoirs of the former Moroccan monarch King Hassan, with whom he struck up a friendship. He was an advisor to King Hassan on cultural matters for seventeen years. ”
Between 1973 and 1992 Rhodes published, through the encouragment of a Papal Nuncio, three history books under the series title "The Power of Rome in the Twentieth Century", the product of five years of research using the archives available at the Vatican and Bonn. The first volume in the trilogy The Vatican in the Age of Dictators 1922-45“ earned the praise of Rebecca West
who considered it “scrupulously fair and informative on matters obscured by the mutterings of fools”. The second volume of the series “The Vatican in the Age of Liberal Democracies, 1870-1922” was published in 1983 and drew upon the recently released archive material of Pope Leo XIII’s reign. The final volume “The Vatican in the Age of the Cold War” was released in 1992 but had a disappointing reception. For his work on the series he was made a Papal Knight by the Roman Catholic Church
and he subsequently converted to Roman Catholicism.
Rhodes was born in Plymouth, England and was the eldest of three sons of Dorothy and Colonel George Rhodes CBE. His early years were later spent at Lucknow and Delhi in India where his father served in the British Army. He was educated at Rugby School
Rugby School
Rugby School is a co-educational day and boarding school located in the town of Rugby, Warwickshire, England. It is one of the oldest independent schools in Britain.-History:...
and the Royal Military College
Royal Military College
The Royal Military College can refer to:* Royal Military College of Canada in Kingston, Ontario, Canada* Royal Military College Saint-Jean in Saint-Jean, Quebec, Canada* Royal Military College, Duntroon in Campbell, Australian Capital Territory, Australia...
. Though his main interest was English literature he studied mechanical sciences at Trinity College, Cambridge where he obtained his degree in 1939.
Rhodes served in the British Army during World War II and was involved with retreat of the British Army from Dunkirk. He wrote of his war time experiences in the 1942 book “Sword of Bone”, in a style that reminded reviewers of Evelyn Waugh
Evelyn Waugh
Arthur Evelyn St. John Waugh , known as Evelyn Waugh, was an English writer of novels, travel books and biographies. He was also a prolific journalist and reviewer...
. After being promoted to captain he lectured in Canada and the United States, where he met and married a niece of Gustav Mahler
Gustav Mahler
Gustav Mahler was a late-Romantic Austrian composer and one of the leading conductors of his generation. He was born in the village of Kalischt, Bohemia, in what was then Austria-Hungary, now Kaliště in the Czech Republic...
. The marriage was short-lived and led to a nervous breakdown. He was invalided out of the Army 1945
In the early post-war years he taught at Geneva University whilst reading for a degree in Romance languages
Romance languages
The Romance languages are a branch of the Indo-European language family, more precisely of the Italic languages subfamily, comprising all the languages that descend from Vulgar Latin, the language of ancient Rome...
.. He published in 1949 “The Uniform”, a satirical novel about “young society women who worshipped Hitler”. Though Rhodes was not a Roman Catholic he embarked on a pilgrimage during the Holy Year of 1950. His journey from Terni to Rome with a donkey was later recorded in his 1952 travel book “A Sabine Journey”. In 1952 he returned to England and taught romance languages at Eton College
Eton College
Eton College, often referred to simply as Eton, is a British independent school for boys aged 13 to 18. It was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI as "The King's College of Our Lady of Eton besides Wyndsor"....
. His novel “A Ball in Venice”, about a comic struggle between an Englishman, an American millionairess, an art critic, and the Communist mayor, was published in 1953. His novel “The Prophet's Carpet” struck a more sombre tone (1961) In it the character of Mr Sanderson tries to commercialise the Balkan state of "Blagoland" and this leads to conflict with a British consul who is determined to respect the peoples culture and Islamic faith. .
He married his second wife Rosaleen Forbes in 1956. Forbes had previously worked with General Edward Spears in Damascus and had been an ambulance driver across Africa, earning the Croix de Guerre
Croix de guerre
The Croix de guerre is a military decoration of France. It was first created in 1915 and consists of a square-cross medal on two crossed swords, hanging from a ribbon with various degree pins. The decoration was awarded during World War I, again in World War II, and in other conflicts...
. The Rhodes became prominent figures in London's literary circles, with Rose Macaulay
Rose Macaulay
Dame Emilie Rose Macaulay, DBE was an English writer. She published thirty-five books, mostly novels but also biographies and travel writing....
, Arthur Koestler
Arthur Koestler
Arthur Koestler CBE was a Hungarian author and journalist. Koestler was born in Budapest and, apart from his early school years, was educated in Austria...
, the Sitwells and other literary figures often in attendance at the parties they held in Lower Belgrave Street.
Rhodes went to Hungry when news broke of the uprising in 1956. He likely supplied British Intelligence with reports during this period as well as writing articles on the crisis for the Daily Telegraph. He recounted this period in his 1956 book “Journey to Budapest”. His biography of the 19th-century Italian writer and proto-Fascist Gabriele d'Annunzio
Gabriele D'Annunzio
Gabriele D'Annunzio or d'Annunzio was an Italian poet, journalist, novelist, and dramatist...
, was published in 1960 as “The Poet as Superman”. A biography of the French car manufacturer “Louis Renault”, who collaborated with Hitler, was published in 1969. ”
Rhodes translated several books such as "Egyptian and Ancient Eastern Painting" and the memoirs of the former Moroccan monarch King Hassan, with whom he struck up a friendship. He was an advisor to King Hassan on cultural matters for seventeen years. ”
Between 1973 and 1992 Rhodes published, through the encouragment of a Papal Nuncio, three history books under the series title "The Power of Rome in the Twentieth Century", the product of five years of research using the archives available at the Vatican and Bonn. The first volume in the trilogy The Vatican in the Age of Dictators 1922-45“ earned the praise of Rebecca West
Rebecca West
Cicely Isabel Fairfield , known by her pen name Rebecca West, or Dame Rebecca West, DBE was an English author, journalist, literary critic and travel writer. A prolific, protean author who wrote in many genres, West was committed to feminist and liberal principles and was one of the foremost public...
who considered it “scrupulously fair and informative on matters obscured by the mutterings of fools”. The second volume of the series “The Vatican in the Age of Liberal Democracies, 1870-1922” was published in 1983 and drew upon the recently released archive material of Pope Leo XIII’s reign. The final volume “The Vatican in the Age of the Cold War” was released in 1992 but had a disappointing reception. For his work on the series he was made a Papal Knight by the Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
and he subsequently converted to Roman Catholicism.