Bonamy Dobrée
Encyclopedia
Bonamy Dobrée British
academic, was Professor of English Literature at the University of Leeds
from 1936 to 1955.
Dobrée declared himself a Channel Islander
, and was rather proud that both his Bonamy and Dobrée ancestors, bankers, had been mentioned by Thackeray
. His father, who had the same name, was born in 1862 and married Violet Gordon Chase. He had two daughters before his son was born, then died at St. Moritz
of tuberculosis
on August 30, 1891.
After Haileybury
and the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich, Dobrée was commissioned in the Royal Field Artillery
in 1910 but resigned in 1913. He rejoined in 1914, serving in France
and the Middle East
during World War I
. In 1920 he took advantage of a tuition discount offered to veterans, taking his BA from Cambridge
in 1921 and his MA in 1924. In 1925 he was appointed lecturer in London
, and in 1926 Professor of English at the Egyptian University
, Cairo
, where he remained until 1929. In 1936 he was appointed Professor of English Literature at the University of Leeds, where he remained until his retirement.
During World War II
Dobrée served as a lieutenant-colonel in the ABCA
organisation. He delivered the Clark Lectures at Cambridge in 1953, and was an Honorary Doctor of the University of Dijon
. After retiring from Leeds he edited the Writers and their Work series of pamphlets for the British Council
and the National Book League, and lectured as Professor of Literature at Gresham College
. He was the Lord Northcliffe Memorial Lecturer in 1963. He died in his Blackheath
home.
On November 21, 1913, Dobrée married Gladys May (née Valentine; ca. 1893 - May 14, 1974), the daughter of Sir Alexander Brooke-Pechell, Bt
, and had one daughter, Georgina, a well-known clarinetist (1930-2008).
His first book was Restoration Comedy
(1925); his largest, published 35 years later, was on the Early Eighteenth Century in the Oxford History of English Literature. His scholarship was focused within these limits; he also wrote a novel, a play, and poetry.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
academic, was Professor of English Literature at the University of Leeds
University of Leeds
The University of Leeds is a British Redbrick university located in the city of Leeds, West Yorkshire, England...
from 1936 to 1955.
Dobrée declared himself a Channel Islander
Channel Islands
The Channel Islands are an archipelago of British Crown Dependencies in the English Channel, off the French coast of Normandy. They include two separate bailiwicks: the Bailiwick of Guernsey and the Bailiwick of Jersey...
, and was rather proud that both his Bonamy and Dobrée ancestors, bankers, had been mentioned by Thackeray
William Makepeace Thackeray
William Makepeace Thackeray was an English novelist of the 19th century. He was famous for his satirical works, particularly Vanity Fair, a panoramic portrait of English society.-Biography:...
. His father, who had the same name, was born in 1862 and married Violet Gordon Chase. He had two daughters before his son was born, then died at St. Moritz
St. Moritz
St. Moritz is a resort town in the Engadine valley in Switzerland. It is a municipality in the district of Maloja in the Swiss canton of Graubünden...
of tuberculosis
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...
on August 30, 1891.
After Haileybury
Haileybury and Imperial Service College
Haileybury and Imperial Service College, , is a prestigious British independent school founded in 1862. The school is located at Hertford Heath, near Hertford, from central London, on of parkland occupied until 1858 by the East India College...
and the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich, Dobrée was commissioned in the Royal Field Artillery
Royal Field Artillery
The Royal Field Artillery of the British Army provided artillery support for the British Army. It came into being when the Royal Artillery was divided on 1 July 1899, it was reamalgamated back into the Royal Artillery in 1924....
in 1910 but resigned in 1913. He rejoined in 1914, serving in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. In 1920 he took advantage of a tuition discount offered to veterans, taking his BA from Cambridge
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
in 1921 and his MA in 1924. In 1925 he was appointed lecturer in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, and in 1926 Professor of English at the Egyptian University
Cairo University
Cairo University is a public university located in Giza, Egypt.The university was founded on December 21, 1908, as the result of an effort to establish a national center for educational thought...
, Cairo
Cairo
Cairo , is the capital of Egypt and the largest city in the Arab world and Africa, and the 16th largest metropolitan area in the world. Nicknamed "The City of a Thousand Minarets" for its preponderance of Islamic architecture, Cairo has long been a centre of the region's political and cultural life...
, where he remained until 1929. In 1936 he was appointed Professor of English Literature at the University of Leeds, where he remained until his retirement.
During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
Dobrée served as a lieutenant-colonel in the ABCA
Army Bureau of Current Affairs
The Army Bureau of Current Affairs, or ABCA, was an organisation set up to educate and raise morale amongst British servicemen in World War II....
organisation. He delivered the Clark Lectures at Cambridge in 1953, and was an Honorary Doctor of the University of Dijon
University of Burgundy
The University of Burgundy is a university located in Dijon, France.The University of Burgundy is situated on a large campus called Campus Montmuzard, 15 minutes by bus from the City Centre...
. After retiring from Leeds he edited the Writers and their Work series of pamphlets for the British Council
British Council
The British Council is a United Kingdom-based organisation specialising in international educational and cultural opportunities. It is registered as a charity both in England and Wales, and in Scotland...
and the National Book League, and lectured as Professor of Literature at Gresham College
Gresham College
Gresham College is an institution of higher learning located at Barnard's Inn Hall off Holborn in central London, England. It was founded in 1597 under the will of Sir Thomas Gresham and today it hosts over 140 free public lectures every year within the City of London.-History:Sir Thomas Gresham,...
. He was the Lord Northcliffe Memorial Lecturer in 1963. He died in his Blackheath
Blackheath, London
Blackheath is a district of South London, England. It is named from the large open public grassland which separates it from Greenwich to the north and Lewisham to the west...
home.
On November 21, 1913, Dobrée married Gladys May (née Valentine; ca. 1893 - May 14, 1974), the daughter of Sir Alexander Brooke-Pechell, Bt
Baronet
A baronet or the rare female equivalent, a baronetess , is the holder of a hereditary baronetcy awarded by the British Crown...
, and had one daughter, Georgina, a well-known clarinetist (1930-2008).
His first book was Restoration Comedy
Restoration comedy
Restoration comedy refers to English comedies written and performed in the Restoration period from 1660 to 1710. After public stage performances had been banned for 18 years by the Puritan regime, the re-opening of the theatres in 1660 signalled a renaissance of English drama...
(1925); his largest, published 35 years later, was on the Early Eighteenth Century in the Oxford History of English Literature. His scholarship was focused within these limits; he also wrote a novel, a play, and poetry.
External links
- Bonamy Dobrée Collection at the Harry Ransom Center at the University of Texas at AustinUniversity of Texas at AustinThe University of Texas at Austin is a state research university located in Austin, Texas, USA, and is the flagship institution of the The University of Texas System. Founded in 1883, its campus is located approximately from the Texas State Capitol in Austin...