Gerald Hamilton
Encyclopedia
Gerald Bernard Francis Hamilton (c. 1888–1970) was a memoirist, critic and internationalist.
in the 1880s, but educated at England's Rugby School
, he counted amongst his friends such notables as Winston Churchill
, Aleister Crowley
, Robin Maugham, Tallulah Bankhead
and Christopher Isherwood
, who wrote of Hamilton's remarkable personality and frequently shady dealings in his literary memoir Christopher and His Kind
.
Hamilton was of Irish heritage and converted to Roman Catholicism. He hinted that his family lineage was "faintly ducal," but it is unknown if he was a direct descendant of a title. He was interned by the Crown during World War I because of his associations with Roger Casement
, the Irish Nationalist accused of homosexuality
and later executed for consorting with the Germans. Hamilton's own homosexuality was only a thinly veiled secret. Churchill had the Communist-sympathizing Hamilton temporarily interned during World War II
for his vocal anti-war attitudes.
Hamilton had earlier served as the model for Isherwood's character Arthur Norris in his well-known novel Mr Norris Changes Trains (1935) (published in the US as The Last of Mr. Norris). Hamilton derived from this the title for his memoir, Mr. Norris and I, which was published in 1956. An earlier memoir, As Young as Sophocles, was published in 1937, while a third memoir, The Way it Was With Me, was published in 1969.
Apart from Hamilton's works of autobiography, his books include Jacaranda, an account of a trip to South-Africa; Emma in Blue, about Lady Emma Hamilton and particularly her friendship with Marie Caroline of Austria while in Naples; and Blood Royal, a history of Queen Victoria's immediate descendants and relatives in Europe, and the haemophilia
that afflicted the family.
Hamilton died in 1970 at the age of 82.
, author and editor, who wrote Conversations with Gerald about their acquaintance.
There is a classic account of Hamilton in later life in Robin Maugham's second volume of autobiography, Search for Nirvana (1979).
Hamilton was portrayed by Toby Jones
in the 2011 BBC production of Christopher and His Kind
.
Life
Born in ShanghaiShanghai
Shanghai is the largest city by population in China and the largest city proper in the world. It is one of the four province-level municipalities in the People's Republic of China, with a total population of over 23 million as of 2010...
in the 1880s, but educated at England's 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:...
, he counted amongst his friends such notables as Winston Churchill
Winston Churchill
Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill, was a predominantly Conservative British politician and statesman known for his leadership of the United Kingdom during the Second World War. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest wartime leaders of the century and served as Prime Minister twice...
, Aleister Crowley
Aleister Crowley
Aleister Crowley , born Edward Alexander Crowley, and also known as both Frater Perdurabo and The Great Beast, was an influential English occultist, astrologer, mystic and ceremonial magician, responsible for founding the religious philosophy of Thelema. He was also successful in various other...
, Robin Maugham, Tallulah Bankhead
Tallulah Bankhead
Tallulah Brockman Bankhead was an award-winning American actress of the stage and screen, talk-show host, and bonne vivante...
and Christopher Isherwood
Christopher Isherwood
Christopher William Bradshaw Isherwood was an English-American novelist.-Early life and work:Born at Wyberslegh Hall, High Lane, Cheshire in North West England, Isherwood spent his childhood in various towns where his father, a Lieutenant-Colonel in the British Army, was stationed...
, who wrote of Hamilton's remarkable personality and frequently shady dealings in his literary memoir Christopher and His Kind
Christopher and His Kind
Christopher and His Kind is a 1976 memoir by the British author Christopher Isherwood, covering the period 1929 to 1939 and principally covering his years in Berlin. Isherwood's real-life experiences during this period formed the basis of his novel Goodbye to Berlin.It was adapted for television in...
.
Hamilton was of Irish heritage and converted to Roman Catholicism. He hinted that his family lineage was "faintly ducal," but it is unknown if he was a direct descendant of a title. He was interned by the Crown during World War I because of his associations with Roger Casement
Roger Casement
Roger David Casement —Sir Roger Casement CMG between 1911 and shortly before his execution for treason, when he was stripped of his British honours—was an Irish patriot, poet, revolutionary, and nationalist....
, the Irish Nationalist accused of homosexuality
Homosexuality
Homosexuality is romantic or sexual attraction or behavior between members of the same sex or gender. As a sexual orientation, homosexuality refers to "an enduring pattern of or disposition to experience sexual, affectional, or romantic attractions" primarily or exclusively to people of the same...
and later executed for consorting with the Germans. Hamilton's own homosexuality was only a thinly veiled secret. Churchill had the Communist-sympathizing Hamilton temporarily interned 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...
for his vocal anti-war attitudes.
Hamilton had earlier served as the model for Isherwood's character Arthur Norris in his well-known novel Mr Norris Changes Trains (1935) (published in the US as The Last of Mr. Norris). Hamilton derived from this the title for his memoir, Mr. Norris and I, which was published in 1956. An earlier memoir, As Young as Sophocles, was published in 1937, while a third memoir, The Way it Was With Me, was published in 1969.
Apart from Hamilton's works of autobiography, his books include Jacaranda, an account of a trip to South-Africa; Emma in Blue, about Lady Emma Hamilton and particularly her friendship with Marie Caroline of Austria while in Naples; and Blood Royal, a history of Queen Victoria's immediate descendants and relatives in Europe, and the haemophilia
Haemophilia
Haemophilia is a group of hereditary genetic disorders that impair the body's ability to control blood clotting or coagulation, which is used to stop bleeding when a blood vessel is broken. Haemophilia A is the most common form of the disorder, present in about 1 in 5,000–10,000 male births...
that afflicted the family.
Hamilton died in 1970 at the age of 82.
In popular culture
Later in his life Hamilton became friends with John SymondsJohn Symonds
John Symonds was an English novelist, biographer, playwright and writer of children's books.- Early Life :...
, author and editor, who wrote Conversations with Gerald about their acquaintance.
There is a classic account of Hamilton in later life in Robin Maugham's second volume of autobiography, Search for Nirvana (1979).
Hamilton was portrayed by Toby Jones
Toby Jones
Toby Edward Heslewood Jones is an English actor.-Early life:Jones was born in Hammersmith, London, the son of actors Jennifer and Freddie Jones...
in the 2011 BBC production of Christopher and His Kind
Christopher and His Kind (television film)
Christopher and His Kind is a 2011 BBC television film. It tells the story of Christopher Isherwood's life in Berlin in the early 1930s. The film was adapted by Kevin Elyot from Isherwood's autobiography of the same title, produced by Mammoth Screen and directed by Geoffrey Sax...
.
Works
- As Young as Sophocles, Secker & Warburg, 1937
- Mr Norris and I, Allan Wingate, 1956
- That Way it Was With Me, Leslie Frewin, London, 1969, ISBN 0090965604
- Jacaranda, Sidgwick & Jackson, London, 1961
- Emma in Blue, Allan Wingate, 1957
- Blood Royal, Times Publishing/ Anthony Gibbs & Phillips, 1964