Hannen Swaffer
Encyclopedia
Hannen Swaffer was a British
journalist
and drama critic.
Swaffer was educated at Stroud Green Grammar School, Kent
.
He joined the Daily Mail
in 1902. He was editor of Weekly Dispatch
and helped develop the Daily Mirror into a popular newspaper. In 1913, he initiated "Mr Gossip" for the Daily Sketch
. He also started "Mr London" for the Daily Graphic
. He was editor of The People
, and in 1926, became drama critic of the Daily Express
. He joined the Daily Herald in 1931.
In the 1930s Swaffer led a spiritualist home circle, following the teachings of the native-American spirit "Silver Birch", which were published by A. W. Austen in 1938.
Hannen Swaffer was a socialist, but resigned form the Labour Party
in 1957. He also became a spiritualist. He is said to have written almost a million words each
year. His publications included Northcliffe's Return (1925), Really Behind the Scenes (1929), Hannen Swaffer's Who's Who (1929), Adventures with Inspiration (1929), When Men Talk Truth (1934), My Greatest Story (1945) and What Would Nelson Do? (1946).
Swaffer appeared in the films Death at Broadcasting House
(1934), Late Extra (1935) and Spellbound
(1941). He also appeared on The Brains Trust
programme. He died in London
, England.
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
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
and drama critic.
Swaffer was educated at Stroud Green Grammar School, Kent
Kent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
.
He joined the Daily Mail
Daily Mail
The Daily Mail is a British daily middle-market tabloid newspaper owned by the Daily Mail and General Trust. First published in 1896 by Lord Northcliffe, it is the United Kingdom's second biggest-selling daily newspaper after The Sun. Its sister paper The Mail on Sunday was launched in 1982...
in 1902. He was editor of Weekly Dispatch
Weekly Dispatch
Weekly Dispatch may refer to:* New York Weekly Dispatch* Weekly Dispatch , London, renamed to Sunday Dispatch in 1928* Richmond Weekly Dispatch, Richmond, VA* South Australian Weekly Dispatch, South Australia...
and helped develop the Daily Mirror into a popular newspaper. In 1913, he initiated "Mr Gossip" for the Daily Sketch
Daily Sketch
The Daily Sketch was a British national tabloid newspaper, founded in Manchester in 1909 by Sir Edward Hulton.It was bought in 1920 by Lord Rothermere's Daily Mirror Newspapers but in 1925 Rothermere offloaded it to William and Gomer Berry The Daily Sketch was a British national tabloid newspaper,...
. He also started "Mr London" for the Daily Graphic
The Graphic
The Graphic was a British weekly illustrated newspaper, first published on 4 December 1869 by William Luson Thomas's company Illustrated Newspapers Limited....
. He was editor of The People
The People
The People, previously known as the Sunday People, is a British tabloid Sunday-only newspaper. The paper was founded on 16 October 1881.It is published by the Trinity Mirror Group.In July 2011 it had an average daily circulation of 806,544....
, and in 1926, became drama critic of 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...
. He joined the Daily Herald in 1931.
In the 1930s Swaffer led a spiritualist home circle, following the teachings of the native-American spirit "Silver Birch", which were published by A. W. Austen in 1938.
Hannen Swaffer was a socialist, but resigned form the Labour Party
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
in 1957. He also became a spiritualist. He is said to have written almost a million words each
year. His publications included Northcliffe's Return (1925), Really Behind the Scenes (1929), Hannen Swaffer's Who's Who (1929), Adventures with Inspiration (1929), When Men Talk Truth (1934), My Greatest Story (1945) and What Would Nelson Do? (1946).
Swaffer appeared in the films Death at Broadcasting House
Death at Broadcasting House
Death at Broadcasting House, also known as Death at a Broadcast, is a 1934 British mystery film directed by Reginald Denham and starring Ian Hunter, Austin Trevor, Henry Kendall, and Jack Hawkins.-Cast:...
(1934), Late Extra (1935) and Spellbound
Spellbound (1941 film)
Spellbound is a 1941 British drama film directed by John Harlow. The film is based on the novel The Necromancer by Robert Hugh Benson. It was also released under the titles of Ghost Story and The Spell of Army Nugent.-Plot:...
(1941). He also appeared on The Brains Trust
The Brains Trust
The Brains Trust was a popular informational BBC radio and later television programme in the United Kingdom during the 1940s and 50s.- History :...
programme. He died 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...
, England.
External links
- Hannen Swaffer (1879–1962) portraits in the National Portrait Gallery, London
- Portrait of Hannen Swaffer (1879–1962) by Laurence Bradshaw, FRBS
Books
- Tom Driberg, Swaff: Life and Times of Hannen Swaffer. Macdonald, 1974. ISBN 0-356-04369-X.