Geoffrey Wheatcroft
Encyclopedia
Geoffrey Albert Wheatcroft (born 23 December 1945 in London
) is a British
journalist and writer.
, London, and at New College
Oxford, where he read Modern History
.
(1968-70), Michael Joseph (1971-73), and Cassell & Co
(1974-75).
In 1975 he became the assistant editor of The Spectator
, moving to the post of literary editor, which he occupied from 1977 to 1981. During the period 1981-84, he worked as a reporter in South Africa before becoming editor of the Londoner's Diary gossip column in the London Evening Standard
, 1985-86. He was a Sunday Telegraph
columnist 1987-91, freelance 1993-96; feature writer on the Daily Express
, 1996-97; and has since written for The Guardian
, The Times Literary Supplement, The New York Review of Books
, The New Republic
, the Boston Globe, The American Conservative
, and other publications on both sides of the Atlantic.
His book The Controversy of Zion won a National Jewish Book Award
.
. They live in Bath with their two children Abigail and Gabriel.
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...
) is a British
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...
journalist and writer.
Education
He was educated at University College SchoolUniversity College School
University College School, generally known as UCS, is an Independent school charity situated in Hampstead, north west London, England. The school was founded in 1830 by University College London and inherited many of that institution's progressive and secular views...
, London, and at New College
New College, Oxford
New College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom.- Overview :The College's official name, College of St Mary, is the same as that of the older Oriel College; hence, it has been referred to as the "New College of St Mary", and is now almost always...
Oxford, where he read Modern History
History
History is the discovery, collection, organization, and presentation of information about past events. History can also mean the period of time after writing was invented. Scholars who write about history are called historians...
.
Publishing and journalism
He started work in publishing in 1968, working for Hamish HamiltonHamish Hamilton
Hamish Hamilton Limited was a British book publishing house, founded in 1931 eponymously by the half-Scot half-American Jamie Hamilton . Confusingly, Jamie Hamilton was often referred to as Hamish Hamilton...
(1968-70), Michael Joseph (1971-73), and Cassell & Co
John Cassell
John Cassell was an English publisher, printer, writer and editor, who founded the firm Cassell & Co, famous for its educational books and periodicals, and which pioneered the serial publication of novels. He was also a well-known tea and coffee merchant and a general business entrepreneur...
(1974-75).
In 1975 he became the assistant editor of The Spectator
The Spectator
The Spectator is a weekly British magazine first published on 6 July 1828. It is currently owned by David and Frederick Barclay, who also owns The Daily Telegraph. Its principal subject areas are politics and culture...
, moving to the post of literary editor, which he occupied from 1977 to 1981. During the period 1981-84, he worked as a reporter in South Africa before becoming editor of the Londoner's Diary gossip column in the London Evening Standard
Evening Standard
The Evening Standard, now styled the London Evening Standard, is a free local daily newspaper, published Monday–Friday in tabloid format in London. It is the dominant regional evening paper for London and the surrounding area, with coverage of national and international news and City of London...
, 1985-86. He was a Sunday Telegraph
Sunday Telegraph
The Sunday Telegraph is a British broadsheet newspaper, founded in February 1961. It is the sister paper of The Daily Telegraph, but is run separately with a different editorial staff, although there is some cross-usage of stories...
columnist 1987-91, freelance 1993-96; feature writer on the Daily Express
Daily Express
The Daily Express switched from broadsheet to tabloid in 1977 and was bought by the construction company Trafalgar House in the same year. Its publishing company, Beaverbrook Newspapers, was renamed Express Newspapers...
, 1996-97; and has since written for The Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
, The Times Literary Supplement, The New York Review of Books
The New York Review of Books
The New York Review of Books is a fortnightly magazine with articles on literature, culture and current affairs. Published in New York City, it takes as its point of departure that the discussion of important books is itself an indispensable literary activity...
, The New Republic
The New Republic
The magazine has also published two articles concerning income inequality, largely criticizing conservative economists for their attempts to deny the existence or negative effect increasing income inequality is having on the United States...
, the Boston Globe, The American Conservative
The American Conservative
The American Conservative is a monthly U.S. opinion magazine published by Ron Unz. Its first editor was Scott McConnell, his successors being Kara Hopkins and the present incumbent, Daniel McCarthy....
, and other publications on both sides of the Atlantic.
His book The Controversy of Zion won a National Jewish Book Award
Jewish Book Council
The Jewish Book Council, founded in 1944, is an organization encouraging and contributing to Jewish literature. The goal of the council, as stated on its website, is "to promote the reading, writing and publishing of quality English language books of Jewish content in North America". It is the only...
.
Marriage and family
He married in 1990 Sally, the daughter of Frank MuirFrank Muir
Frank Herbert Muir was an English comedy writer, radio and television personality, and raconteur. His writing and performing partnership with Denis Norden endured for most of their careers. Together they wrote BBC radio's Take It From Here for over 10 years, and then appeared on BBC radio...
. They live in Bath with their two children Abigail and Gabriel.
Books
- The Randlords (1985)
- Absent Friends (1989)
- The Controversy of Zion (1996)
- The Strange Death of Tory EnglandThe Strange Death of Tory EnglandThe Strange Death of Tory England is a book of political commentary by the journalist Geoffrey Wheatcroft, published in 2005.-Outline:In the run-up to the United Kingdom general election of 2005, Wheatcroft looks at the journey of the British Conservative Party from being the country's most...
(2005) - Le Tour (2007)
- Yo, Blair! (2007)
External links
- Wheatcroft on The Guardian
- Biography of Geoffrey Wheatcroft on The Atlantic MonthlyThe Atlantic MonthlyThe Atlantic is an American magazine founded in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1857. It was created as a literary and cultural commentary magazine. It quickly achieved a national reputation, which it held for more than a century. It was important for recognizing and publishing new writers and poets,...
(accessed 24 September 2007) - Wheatcroft author page and article archive from The New York Review of Books