Edward Tangye Lean
Encyclopedia
Edward Tangye Lean was a British
author and original founder of the Inklings
literary club in Oxford
.
Lean's father was Francis William le Blount Lean and his mother was Helena Annie (née Tangye) Lean, who were married in 1904, separated by 1927, and were both Quakers. He was the younger brother of David Lean
, the film director.
After leaving Leighton Park School
, Tangye Lean was an undergraduate at University College, Oxford
. While at Oxford
, he founded the original Inklings club around 1931, for the reading of unfinished compositions. The club consisted of students and dons, including J. R. R. Tolkien
and C. S. Lewis
. When Lean left Oxford in 1933, the club faltered. However, its name was transferred by Tolkien and Lewis to their literary group at Magdalen College
. Lean also contributed to the Isis magazine at Oxford.
Lean went on to become a writer, especially on historical themes.
He was a journalist and book reviewer for the News Chronicle
.
Later, he was Director of External Broadcasting at the BBC.
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...
author and original founder of the Inklings
Inklings
The Inklings was an informal literary discussion group associated with the University of Oxford, England, for nearly two decades between the early 1930s and late 1949. The Inklings were literary enthusiasts who praised the value of narrative in fiction, and encouraged the writing of fantasy...
literary club in Oxford
Oxford
The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
.
Lean's father was Francis William le Blount Lean and his mother was Helena Annie (née Tangye) Lean, who were married in 1904, separated by 1927, and were both Quakers. He was the younger brother of David Lean
David Lean
Sir David Lean CBE was an English film director, producer, screenwriter, and editor best remembered for big-screen epics such as The Bridge on the River Kwai , Lawrence of Arabia ,...
, the film director.
After leaving Leighton Park School
Leighton Park School
Leighton Park School is a co-educational Quaker independent school for both day and boarding pupils. It is situated in the large town of Reading in Berkshire, in South East England...
, Tangye Lean was an undergraduate at University College, Oxford
University College, Oxford
.University College , is a constituent college of the University of Oxford in England. As of 2009 the college had an estimated financial endowment of £110m...
. While at Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
, he founded the original Inklings club around 1931, for the reading of unfinished compositions. The club consisted of students and dons, including J. R. R. Tolkien
J. R. R. Tolkien
John Ronald Reuel Tolkien, CBE was an English writer, poet, philologist, and university professor, best known as the author of the classic high fantasy works The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, and The Silmarillion.Tolkien was Rawlinson and Bosworth Professor of Anglo-Saxon at Pembroke College,...
and C. S. Lewis
C. S. Lewis
Clive Staples Lewis , commonly referred to as C. S. Lewis and known to his friends and family as "Jack", was a novelist, academic, medievalist, literary critic, essayist, lay theologian and Christian apologist from Belfast, Ireland...
. When Lean left Oxford in 1933, the club faltered. However, its name was transferred by Tolkien and Lewis to their literary group at Magdalen College
Magdalen College, Oxford
Magdalen College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. As of 2006 the college had an estimated financial endowment of £153 million. Magdalen is currently top of the Norrington Table after over half of its 2010 finalists received first-class degrees, a record...
. Lean also contributed to the Isis magazine at Oxford.
Lean went on to become a writer, especially on historical themes.
He was a journalist and book reviewer for the News Chronicle
News Chronicle
The News Chronicle was a British daily newspaper. It ceased publication on 17 October 1960, being absorbed into the Daily Mail. Its offices were in Bouverie Street, off Fleet Street, London, EC4Y 8DP, England.-Daily Chronicle:...
.
Later, he was Director of External Broadcasting at the BBC.
Books
- Of Unsound Mind (Cobden-Sanderson, 1932)
- Storm in Oxford (Cobden-Sanderson, 1932)
- Voices in the Darkness (Secker and WarburgSecker and WarburgHarvill Secker is a British publishing company formed in 2004 from the merger of Secker and Warburg and the Harvill Press.Secker and Warburg was formed in 1936 from a takeover of Martin Secker, which was in receivership, by Fredric Warburg and Roger Senhouse...
, 1943) - The Napoleonists: A study in political disaffection, 1760–1960 (Oxford University PressOxford University PressOxford University Press is the largest university press in the world. It is a department of the University of Oxford and is governed by a group of 15 academics appointed by the Vice-Chancellor known as the Delegates of the Press. They are headed by the Secretary to the Delegates, who serves as...
, 1970)