John Metcalfe (writer)
Encyclopedia
William John Metcalfe was a teacher, short story writer and novelist.
, Norfolk
, England
, on October 6, 1891. He graduated from the University of London
in 1913, after which he taught in Paris
until 1914. During World War I
, he served in the Royal Naval Division, the Royal Naval Air Service
, and ultimately the Royal Air Force
.
After the war, Metcalfe taught at Highgate Junior School in London
and began writing. His first book, The Smoking Leg and Other Stories was published in 1925
. After its publication, he abandoned teaching to begin writing full time.
Metcalfe emigrated to the United States
in 1928, where he began writing Arm's Length while serving as a barge captain on the East River
. On March 17, 1930, Metcalfe married the American novelist Evelyn Scott
.
After his service in World War II in the British Royal Air Force, Metcalfe taught schools in Dorset
and Hampstead
before returning to the United States, where he taught at schools in Connecticut
and New York
.
Evelyn Scott died in August 1963, after suffering from heart disease, a lung tumor, and mental health problems. Metcalfe suffered a breakdown after her death and was hospitalized. After his release in October 1964, he returned to England, where he died on July 31, 1965, as the result of a fall.
Although Metcalfe is best known as an author of science fiction
and horror
stories, he also wrote novels and some poetry.
Biography
John Metcalfe was born in HeachamHeacham
Heacham is a village of 4,707 inhabitants, located in north-west Norfolk, England, between King's Lynn, to the south and Hunstanton, about to the north, on The Wash.- History :...
, Norfolk
Norfolk
Norfolk is a low-lying county in the East of England. It has borders with Lincolnshire to the west, Cambridgeshire to the west and southwest and Suffolk to the south. Its northern and eastern boundaries are the North Sea coast and to the north-west the county is bordered by The Wash. The county...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, on October 6, 1891. He graduated from the University of London
University of London
-20th century:Shortly after 6 Burlington Gardens was vacated, the University went through a period of rapid expansion. Bedford College, Royal Holloway and the London School of Economics all joined in 1900, Regent's Park College, which had affiliated in 1841 became an official divinity school of the...
in 1913, after which he taught in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
until 1914. During World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, he served in the Royal Naval Division, the Royal Naval Air Service
Royal Naval Air Service
The Royal Naval Air Service or RNAS was the air arm of the Royal Navy until near the end of the First World War, when it merged with the British Army's Royal Flying Corps to form a new service , the Royal Air Force...
, and ultimately the Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
.
After the war, Metcalfe taught at Highgate Junior School 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...
and began writing. His first book, The Smoking Leg and Other Stories was published in 1925
1925 in literature
The year 1925 in literature involved some significant events and new books.-Events:* April: F Scott Fitzgerald and Ernest Hemingway meet in the Dingo Bar on rue Delambre, in the Montparnasse Quarter of Paris, France shortly after the publication of Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby and shortly before...
. After its publication, he abandoned teaching to begin writing full time.
Metcalfe emigrated to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in 1928, where he began writing Arm's Length while serving as a barge captain on the East River
East River
The East River is a tidal strait in New York City. It connects Upper New York Bay on its south end to Long Island Sound on its north end. It separates Long Island from the island of Manhattan and the Bronx on the North American mainland...
. On March 17, 1930, Metcalfe married the American novelist Evelyn Scott
Evelyn Scott
Evelyn Scott was an American novelist, playwright and poet. She also wrote under the pseudonyms Ernest Souza and Elsie Dunn.-External links:**...
.
After his service in World War II in the British Royal Air Force, Metcalfe taught schools in Dorset
Dorset
Dorset , is a county in South West England on the English Channel coast. The county town is Dorchester which is situated in the south. The Hampshire towns of Bournemouth and Christchurch joined the county with the reorganisation of local government in 1974...
and Hampstead
Hampstead
Hampstead is an area of London, England, north-west of Charing Cross. Part of the London Borough of Camden in Inner London, it is known for its intellectual, liberal, artistic, musical and literary associations and for Hampstead Heath, a large, hilly expanse of parkland...
before returning to the United States, where he taught at schools in Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
and New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
.
Evelyn Scott died in August 1963, after suffering from heart disease, a lung tumor, and mental health problems. Metcalfe suffered a breakdown after her death and was hospitalized. After his release in October 1964, he returned to England, where he died on July 31, 1965, as the result of a fall.
Although Metcalfe is best known as an author of science fiction
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
and horror
Horror fiction
Horror fiction also Horror fantasy is a philosophy of literature, which is intended to, or has the capacity to frighten its readers, inducing feelings of horror and terror. It creates an eerie atmosphere. Horror can be either supernatural or non-supernatural...
stories, he also wrote novels and some poetry.
Novels
- Brenner's Boy (1932)
- Arm's Length
- Spring Darkness' (US title: Mrs Condover)
- Foster-Girl (US title: Sally)
- All Friends Are Strangers
- The Feasting DeadThe Feasting DeadThe Feasting Dead is a horror novel by author John Metcalfe. It was published by Arkham House in 1954 in an edition of 1,242 copies. It was the only book published by Arkham House in 1954.-Plot summary:...
(1954)
Collections
- The Smoking Leg, and Other Stories (1925)
- Judas, and Other Stories (1931)
- Nightmare Jack and Other Tales (1998)