John Courtenay Trewin
Encyclopedia
John Courtenay Trewin OBE
(4 December 1908–16 February 1990) was a British
journalist, writer and drama critic. Since 2000, an award has been given by the Critics' Circle for the best Shakespearean performance of the Year: "The John And Wendy Trewin Award For Best Shakespearian Performance".
Trewin was born in Plymouth
, although both his parents were Cornish
. He was educated at Plymouth College
and in 1926 joined the Western Independent as a cub reporter. He moved to London
in 1932 and joined the Morning Post
, transferring to The Observer
in 1937. He served as drama critic on the paper for over sixty years.
He was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire
(OBE) in 1981.
He married Wendy Monk
(1915–2000) in 1938 and they had two sons, Mark Antony Trewin and Ion Trewin
(Literary Editor of The Times
, Editorial Director of Hodder and Stoughton, Editor-in-Chief and Managing Director of Weidenfeld and Nicolson, 1997–2007, and Administrator of the Man Booker Prize
from 2006).
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(4 December 1908–16 February 1990) was 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, writer and drama critic. Since 2000, an award has been given by the Critics' Circle for the best Shakespearean performance of the Year: "The John And Wendy Trewin Award For Best Shakespearian Performance".
Trewin was born in Plymouth
Plymouth
Plymouth is a city and unitary authority area on the coast of Devon, England, about south-west of London. It is built between the mouths of the rivers Plym to the east and Tamar to the west, where they join Plymouth Sound...
, although both his parents were Cornish
Cornish people
The Cornish are a people associated with Cornwall, a county and Duchy in the south-west of the United Kingdom that is seen in some respects as distinct from England, having more in common with the other Celtic parts of the United Kingdom such as Wales, as well as with other Celtic nations in Europe...
. He was educated at Plymouth College
Plymouth College
Plymouth College is a co-educational independent school in Plymouth, Devon, England, for day and boarding pupils from the ages of 11 to 18...
and in 1926 joined the Western Independent as a cub reporter. He moved to 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...
in 1932 and joined the Morning Post
Morning Post
The Morning Post, as the paper was named on its masthead, was a conservative daily newspaper published in London from 1772 to 1937, when it was acquired by The Daily Telegraph.- History :...
, transferring to The Observer
The Observer
The Observer is a British newspaper, published on Sundays. In the same place on the political spectrum as its daily sister paper The Guardian, which acquired it in 1993, it takes a liberal or social democratic line on most issues. It is the world's oldest Sunday newspaper.-Origins:The first issue,...
in 1937. He served as drama critic on the paper for over sixty years.
He was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(OBE) in 1981.
He married Wendy Monk
Wendy Monk
Wendy Elizabeth Monk , wife of theatre critic J.C. Trewin , whom she married on October 4, 1938. They were "an inseparable couple, whose shared interests also bore fruit in literary collaboration, they had two sons"...
(1915–2000) in 1938 and they had two sons, Mark Antony Trewin and Ion Trewin
Ion Trewin
Ion Trewin is the literary director of the Man Booker Prize and the biographer of Alan Clark, MP and celebrated diarist. Originally a journalist on The Times he was until his retirement in 2006 Editor in Chief at the publishers Weidenfeld & Nicolson. The literary agent Simon Trewin is his son. -...
(Literary Editor of The Times
The Times
The Times is a British daily national newspaper, first published in London in 1785 under the title The Daily Universal Register . The Times and its sister paper The Sunday Times are published by Times Newspapers Limited, a subsidiary since 1981 of News International...
, Editorial Director of Hodder and Stoughton, Editor-in-Chief and Managing Director of Weidenfeld and Nicolson, 1997–2007, and Administrator of the Man Booker Prize
Man Booker Prize
The Man Booker Prize for Fiction is a literary prize awarded each year for the best original full-length novel, written in the English language, by a citizen of the Commonwealth of Nations, Ireland, or Zimbabwe. The winner of the Man Booker Prize is generally assured of international renown and...
from 2006).