Douglas Blackwood
Encyclopedia
George Douglas Morant Blackwood, (October 11, 1909 — March 2, 1997) was a British publisher and a fighter pilot in the Royal Air Force
during World War II.
who founded William Blackwood & Sons the publishers and Blackwood's Magazine
. He was educated at St Cyprian's School
, Eastbourne
and Eton
. On completing his education, he had little choice but to follow his father into the family firm. However he held a short service commission in the RAF
from 1932 to 1938 and had it not been for the outbreak of World War II
, he would have returned to Edinburgh to work for his father and uncle.
a Czech fighter squadron during the Battle of Britain
. In August 1940 during the Battle of Britain, he was forced to bale out over Clacton. After a night of German bombing of the City of London
, he was on dawn patrol and from his plane at 25,000 feet over the North Weald he could see the thick smoke from the fires which destroyed Blackwood's business premises in Paternoster Square
. He ended the Second World War as Wing Commander
commanding the Czech Fighter Wing in the RAF Second Tactical Air Force
. He was decorated with the Czech War Cross
and Czech Military Medal and was presented with the Czech Medal of George of Poděbrady in 1993.
had destroyed millions of books as well as Blackwood's base in London and heralded a decline in the firm's fortunes. Before the war William Blackwood & Sons had been one of Britain's leading literary publishers, but in the post-war world its name and literary reputation counted for little. Blackwood was managing director of the firm and editor of Blackwoods Magazine from 1948 to 1976. Blackwoods had to deal with an increasing number of mass-production rivals and with a decline in interest in monthly literary magazines. By the 1970s Blackwoods and its magazine appeared out-of-date and failed to attract a younger generation of writers and readers. It was an achievement that the magazine survived until 1980. Blackwood retired from the editorship in 1976, being the last member of his family to edit the magazine which bore his name. He remained chairman of the publishing house until 1983.
His biographer, Trevor Royle noted that Blackwood, being shy, could appear remote or aloof, although he was considered "a kindly man who wore his learning lightly". He was most comfortable in military company and never courted literary or political society. He had little literary pretension - when a reviewer asked if he had known George Orwell
at Eton - he was six years his junior there and at St Cyprian's - Blackwood replied, "Oh, Blair, yes I remember him, he had a motor-bicycle." However Blackwood's dismissive comment may have a different interpretation as he published an article in his magazine that vigorously refuted Orwell's criticisms of their prep school.
In retirement Blackwood lived in the Scottish Borders, where he enjoyed field sports and country pursuits. He died in Edinburgh.
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
during World War II.
Early life
Douglas Blackwood was a great-great-grandson of William BlackwoodWilliam Blackwood
William Blackwood was a Scottish publisher who founded the firm of William Blackwood & Sons.Blackwood was born of humble parents in Edinburgh. At the age of fourteen he was apprenticed to a firm of booksellers in Edinburgh, and he followed his calling also in Glasgow and London for several years...
who founded William Blackwood & Sons the publishers and Blackwood's Magazine
Blackwood's Magazine
Blackwood's Magazine was a British magazine and miscellany printed between 1817 and 1980. It was founded by the publisher William Blackwood and was originally called the Edinburgh Monthly Magazine. The first number appeared in April 1817 under the editorship of Thomas Pringle and James Cleghorn...
. He was educated at St Cyprian's School
St Cyprian's School
St Cyprian's School was an English preparatory school for boys, which operated in the early 20th century in Eastbourne, East Sussex. Like other preparatory schools, its purpose was to train pupils to do well enough in the examinations to gain admission to leading public schools, and to provide an...
, Eastbourne
Eastbourne
Eastbourne is a large town and borough in East Sussex, on the south coast of England between Brighton and Hastings. The town is situated at the eastern end of the chalk South Downs alongside the high cliff at Beachy Head...
and Eton
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"....
. On completing his education, he had little choice but to follow his father into the family firm. However he held a short service commission in the RAF
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
from 1932 to 1938 and had it not been for the outbreak of 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...
, he would have returned to Edinburgh to work for his father and uncle.
RAF service
He rejoined the RAF in 1939 and, being a naturally gifted fighter pilot, commanded No. 310 Squadron RAFNo. 310 Squadron RAF
No. 310 Squadron RAF was a Czechoslovakian-manned fighter squadron of the Royal Air Force during the Second World War .It was first formed on 10 July 1940 at RAF Duxford, equipped with Hawker Hurricane I fighters and was the first RAF squadron to be raised crewed by foreign nationals, in this case...
a Czech fighter squadron during the Battle of Britain
Battle of Britain
The Battle of Britain is the name given to the World War II air campaign waged by the German Air Force against the United Kingdom during the summer and autumn of 1940...
. In August 1940 during the Battle of Britain, he was forced to bale out over Clacton. After a night of German bombing of the City of London
City of London
The City of London is a small area within Greater London, England. It is the historic core of London around which the modern conurbation grew and has held city status since time immemorial. The City’s boundaries have remained almost unchanged since the Middle Ages, and it is now only a tiny part of...
, he was on dawn patrol and from his plane at 25,000 feet over the North Weald he could see the thick smoke from the fires which destroyed Blackwood's business premises in Paternoster Square
Paternoster Square
Paternoster Square is an urban development, owned by the Mitsubishi Estate Co., next to St Paul's Cathedral in the City of London, England. In 1942 the area, which takes its name from Paternoster Row, centre of the London publishing trade, was devastated by aerial bombardment in The Blitz during...
. He ended the Second World War as Wing Commander
Wing Commander (rank)
Wing commander is a commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many other Commonwealth countries...
commanding the Czech Fighter Wing in the RAF Second Tactical Air Force
RAF Second Tactical Air Force
The former RAF Second Tactical Air Force was one of three tactical air forces within the Royal Air Force during and after the Second World War...
. He was decorated with the Czech War Cross
Czechoslovak War Cross 1939-1945
The Czechoslovak War Cross 1939-1945 is a military decoration of the former state of Czechoslovakia which was issued for those who had provided great service the Czechoslovak state during the years of World War II.- Description :On December 20, 1940, the Czech government in exile in London ordered...
and Czech Military Medal and was presented with the Czech Medal of George of Poděbrady in 1993.
Publishing
Blackwood left the RAF in 1945 and found the publishing business to be in a shocking state. The BlitzThe Blitz
The Blitz was the sustained strategic bombing of Britain by Nazi Germany between 7 September 1940 and 10 May 1941, during the Second World War. The city of London was bombed by the Luftwaffe for 76 consecutive nights and many towns and cities across the country followed...
had destroyed millions of books as well as Blackwood's base in London and heralded a decline in the firm's fortunes. Before the war William Blackwood & Sons had been one of Britain's leading literary publishers, but in the post-war world its name and literary reputation counted for little. Blackwood was managing director of the firm and editor of Blackwoods Magazine from 1948 to 1976. Blackwoods had to deal with an increasing number of mass-production rivals and with a decline in interest in monthly literary magazines. By the 1970s Blackwoods and its magazine appeared out-of-date and failed to attract a younger generation of writers and readers. It was an achievement that the magazine survived until 1980. Blackwood retired from the editorship in 1976, being the last member of his family to edit the magazine which bore his name. He remained chairman of the publishing house until 1983.
His biographer, Trevor Royle noted that Blackwood, being shy, could appear remote or aloof, although he was considered "a kindly man who wore his learning lightly". He was most comfortable in military company and never courted literary or political society. He had little literary pretension - when a reviewer asked if he had known George Orwell
George Orwell
Eric Arthur Blair , better known by his pen name George Orwell, was an English author and journalist...
at Eton - he was six years his junior there and at St Cyprian's - Blackwood replied, "Oh, Blair, yes I remember him, he had a motor-bicycle." However Blackwood's dismissive comment may have a different interpretation as he published an article in his magazine that vigorously refuted Orwell's criticisms of their prep school.
In retirement Blackwood lived in the Scottish Borders, where he enjoyed field sports and country pursuits. He died in Edinburgh.