John Prebble
Encyclopedia
John Edward Curtis Prebble, FRSL, OBE (23 June 1915 - 30 January 2001) was an English
/Canadian
journalist, novelist, documentarian and historian. He is best known for his studies of Scottish history.
, Middlesex
, England
, but he grew up in Saskatchewan
, Canada
, where his father had a brother. His parents emigrated there after World War I
. Returning to England with his family, he attended the Latymer School. He joined the Communist Party of Great Britain
but abandoned it after World War II.
He became a journalist in 1934 and served during World War II
with the Royal Artillery
. His wartime experiences led to his novels, Where the Sea Breaks (1944), and The Edge of Darkness, published in 1947. His Canadian prairie
experience influenced two of his works, The Buffalo Soldier an historical novel about the American West, and Culloden, about the famous 1745 battle which resulted in the defeat of the Jacobite uprising. The story of Culloden
had been part of the family lore when he grew up in the predominantly Scottish township of Sutherland
, in rural Saskatchewan. His interest in the American West was also inspired by the fact that part of his family lineage was Native Canadian
: his 1958 book, My Great-Aunt, Appearing Day, and other stories tells of a Native American relative; this story appeared as the film "White Feather" in 1955.
One of his first big successes was The High Girders (1956), a description of the Tay Bridge Disaster
, involving the collapse of the first Tay rail bridge to Dundee
. It has remained a popular work ever since publication. It was the first detailed account of the disaster to expose the many problems encountered during construction of the bridge, and Prebble also made extensive use of the Board of Trade
Public Inquiry
in reviewing the evidence. He included some of the many photographs made at the time, and which show the extent of devastation of the centre part of the bridge on the night of December 28, 1879. There is still controversy over the detailed causes of the failure, especially the contributions from poor design of the columns using cast iron
and the storm
raging at the time of the fall. However, the original conclusions of the Inquiry still stand. It found that the bridge fell owing to "bad design, bad construction and bad maintenance".
The Fire and Sword Trilogy is about the fall of the clan
system in Scotland. Culloden was the first book and it chronicles the defeat of the clans in one pivotal battle. The two other works were The Highland Clearances (1963) and Glencoe (1966). Glencoe was a study of the causes and effects of the Glencoe massacre in 1692, when British soldiers and members of the Campbell Clan attacked and killed members of the MacDonald Clan who lived in Glencoe, a remote glen in the west highlands of Scotland. The book focuses on the political machinations to bring the unruly MacDonalds to heel, both by King William and by Scots with ambitions in royal circles. The massacre was notorious, both then and now, for the Campbells had abused the hospitality of the MacDonalds who had given them food and lodgings for several days before. This was a breach of one of the most sacrosanct of highland traditions.
His later works, Mutiny (1975) and The King's Jaunt (1988) would extend the theme. The Highland Clearances remains one of his best known works perhaps because the subject of the Highland clearances
as a discrete historical event remains a subject of debate. The clearances caused the depopulation of very large areas of the highlands, and force was often used to remove the crofters from their houses and lands.
Prebble makes a strong case that there was a conscious effort to remove Highlanders and Islanders from Scotland. Others argue that it was purely economic and social factors which led to the population decline in rural Scotland. The Historiographer Royal
in Scotland Gordon Donaldson
was particularly cutting in his criticism and declared Prebble's books to be "utter rubbish", a comment which some would say reflects on him rather than Prebble. Independent opinion supports Prebble's interpretation of events, which were not unlike the similar clearances in Ireland
during the potato famine
s. Both reflected the autocratic and feudal nature of land tenure
in those countries. Most of the clearances took place on vast estates held by absentee landlord
s who lived in London
, and decided to improve their income by replacing their tenants by sheep. The Duchess of Sutherland was one especially active in removing the local population. The effects of the clearances are to be seen everywhere in Scotland, with the numerous deserted crofts and abandoned settlements still visible in the landscape.
(1964) was based, and co-wrote the screenplay with the director, Cy Endfield
. He also wrote radio dramas and documentaries for the BBC
. They were usually, but not always, based on his published works. For example, in 1977, he wrote an adaptation of John Buchan's The Three Hostages.
. His first wife died in 1993 and he married Jan Reid in 1994.
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...
/Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
journalist, novelist, documentarian and historian. He is best known for his studies of Scottish history.
Early life
He was born in EdmontonEdmonton, London
Edmonton is an area in the east of the London Borough of Enfield, England, north-north-east of Charing Cross. It has a long history as a settlement distinct from Enfield.-Location:...
, Middlesex
Middlesex
Middlesex is one of the historic counties of England and the second smallest by area. The low-lying county contained the wealthy and politically independent City of London on its southern boundary and was dominated by it from a very early time...
, 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...
, but he grew up in Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan is a prairie province in Canada, which has an area of . Saskatchewan is bordered on the west by Alberta, on the north by the Northwest Territories, on the east by Manitoba, and on the south by the U.S. states of Montana and North Dakota....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, where his father had a brother. His parents emigrated there after 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...
. Returning to England with his family, he attended the Latymer School. He joined the Communist Party of Great Britain
Communist Party of Great Britain
The Communist Party of Great Britain was the largest communist party in Great Britain, although it never became a mass party like those in France and Italy. It existed from 1920 to 1991.-Formation:...
but abandoned it after World War II.
The High Girders
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...
with the Royal Artillery
Royal Artillery
The Royal Regiment of Artillery, commonly referred to as the Royal Artillery , is the artillery arm of the British Army. Despite its name, it comprises a number of regiments.-History:...
. His wartime experiences led to his novels, Where the Sea Breaks (1944), and The Edge of Darkness, published in 1947. His Canadian prairie
Prairie
Prairies are considered part of the temperate grasslands, savannas, and shrublands biome by ecologists, based on similar temperate climates, moderate rainfall, and grasses, herbs, and shrubs, rather than trees, as the dominant vegetation type...
experience influenced two of his works, The Buffalo Soldier an historical novel about the American West, and Culloden, about the famous 1745 battle which resulted in the defeat of the Jacobite uprising. The story of Culloden
Battle of Culloden
The Battle of Culloden was the final confrontation of the 1745 Jacobite Rising. Taking place on 16 April 1746, the battle pitted the Jacobite forces of Charles Edward Stuart against an army commanded by William Augustus, Duke of Cumberland, loyal to the British government...
had been part of the family lore when he grew up in the predominantly Scottish township of Sutherland
Red River Colony
The Red River Colony was a colonization project set up by Thomas Douglas, 5th Earl of Selkirk in 1811 on of land granted to him by the Hudson's Bay Company under what is referred to as the Selkirk Concession. The colony along the Red River of the North was never very successful...
, in rural Saskatchewan. His interest in the American West was also inspired by the fact that part of his family lineage was Native Canadian
Indigenous peoples of the Americas
The indigenous peoples of the Americas are the pre-Columbian inhabitants of North and South America, their descendants and other ethnic groups who are identified with those peoples. Indigenous peoples are known in Canada as Aboriginal peoples, and in the United States as Native Americans...
: his 1958 book, My Great-Aunt, Appearing Day, and other stories tells of a Native American relative; this story appeared as the film "White Feather" in 1955.
One of his first big successes was The High Girders (1956), a description of the Tay Bridge Disaster
Tay Bridge disaster
The Tay Bridge disaster occurred on 28 December 1879, when the first Tay Rail Bridge, which crossed the Firth of Tay between Dundee and Wormit in Scotland, collapsed during a violent storm while a train was passing over it. The bridge was designed by the noted railway engineer Sir Thomas Bouch,...
, involving the collapse of the first Tay rail bridge to Dundee
Dundee
Dundee is the fourth-largest city in Scotland and the 39th most populous settlement in the United Kingdom. It lies within the eastern central Lowlands on the north bank of the Firth of Tay, which feeds into the North Sea...
. It has remained a popular work ever since publication. It was the first detailed account of the disaster to expose the many problems encountered during construction of the bridge, and Prebble also made extensive use of the Board of Trade
Board of Trade
The Board of Trade is a committee of the Privy Council of the United Kingdom, originating as a committee of inquiry in the 17th century and evolving gradually into a government department with a diverse range of functions...
Public Inquiry
Public inquiry
A Tribunal of Inquiry is an official review of events or actions ordered by a government body in Common Law countries such as the United Kingdom, Ireland or Canada. Such a public inquiry differs from a Royal Commission in that a public inquiry accepts evidence and conducts its hearings in a more...
in reviewing the evidence. He included some of the many photographs made at the time, and which show the extent of devastation of the centre part of the bridge on the night of December 28, 1879. There is still controversy over the detailed causes of the failure, especially the contributions from poor design of the columns using cast iron
Cast iron
Cast iron is derived from pig iron, and while it usually refers to gray iron, it also identifies a large group of ferrous alloys which solidify with a eutectic. The color of a fractured surface can be used to identify an alloy. White cast iron is named after its white surface when fractured, due...
and the storm
Storm
A storm is any disturbed state of an astronomical body's atmosphere, especially affecting its surface, and strongly implying severe weather...
raging at the time of the fall. However, the original conclusions of the Inquiry still stand. It found that the bridge fell owing to "bad design, bad construction and bad maintenance".
Fire and Sword Trilogy
Scottish clan
Scottish clans , give a sense of identity and shared descent to people in Scotland and to their relations throughout the world, with a formal structure of Clan Chiefs recognised by the court of the Lord Lyon, King of Arms which acts as an authority concerning matters of heraldry and Coat of Arms...
system in Scotland. Culloden was the first book and it chronicles the defeat of the clans in one pivotal battle. The two other works were The Highland Clearances (1963) and Glencoe (1966). Glencoe was a study of the causes and effects of the Glencoe massacre in 1692, when British soldiers and members of the Campbell Clan attacked and killed members of the MacDonald Clan who lived in Glencoe, a remote glen in the west highlands of Scotland. The book focuses on the political machinations to bring the unruly MacDonalds to heel, both by King William and by Scots with ambitions in royal circles. The massacre was notorious, both then and now, for the Campbells had abused the hospitality of the MacDonalds who had given them food and lodgings for several days before. This was a breach of one of the most sacrosanct of highland traditions.
His later works, Mutiny (1975) and The King's Jaunt (1988) would extend the theme. The Highland Clearances remains one of his best known works perhaps because the subject of the Highland clearances
Highland Clearances
The Highland Clearances were forced displacements of the population of the Scottish Highlands during the 18th and 19th centuries. They led to mass emigration to the sea coast, the Scottish Lowlands, and the North American colonies...
as a discrete historical event remains a subject of debate. The clearances caused the depopulation of very large areas of the highlands, and force was often used to remove the crofters from their houses and lands.
Historiographer Royal
The Historiographer Royal is a member of the Royal household in Scotland. The office was created in 1681, and was in abeyance from 1709 until 1763 when it was revived for Principal William Robertson of Edinburgh University. The post, which now has no formal responsibilities or salary, is held by...
in Scotland Gordon Donaldson
Gordon Donaldson
Gordon Donaldson CBE, FRHistS, FBA was a Scottish historian.Born in Edinburgh of Shetlander descent, Donaldson attended the Royal High School of Edinburgh, before being awarded a scholarship to study at the University of Edinburgh. He also supplemented his income by undertaking some tutoring...
was particularly cutting in his criticism and declared Prebble's books to be "utter rubbish", a comment which some would say reflects on him rather than Prebble. Independent opinion supports Prebble's interpretation of events, which were not unlike the similar clearances in Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
during the potato famine
Potato famine
Potato famine may refer to:* Great Famine , the famine in Ireland between 1845 and 1852* Highland Potato Famine, a major agrarian crisis in the Scottish Highlands from 1846 to 1857...
s. Both reflected the autocratic and feudal nature of land tenure
Land tenure
Land tenure is the name given, particularly in common law systems, to the legal regime in which land is owned by an individual, who is said to "hold" the land . The sovereign monarch, known as The Crown, held land in its own right. All private owners are either its tenants or sub-tenants...
in those countries. Most of the clearances took place on vast estates held by absentee landlord
Absentee landlord
Absentee landlord is an economic term for a person who owns and rents out a profit-earning property, but does not live within the property's local economic region. This practice is problematic for that region because absentee landlords drain local wealth into their home country, particularly that...
s who lived 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 decided to improve their income by replacing their tenants by sheep. The Duchess of Sutherland was one especially active in removing the local population. The effects of the clearances are to be seen everywhere in Scotland, with the numerous deserted crofts and abandoned settlements still visible in the landscape.
Other media
He wrote the article entitled "Slaughter in the Sun" for the magazine Lilliput in 1958, on which the film ZuluZulu (film)
Zulu is a 1964 historical war film depicting the Battle of Rorke's Drift between the British Army and the Zulus in January 1879, during the Anglo-Zulu War....
(1964) was based, and co-wrote the screenplay with the director, Cy Endfield
Cy Endfield
Cyril Raker Endfield was an American screenwriter, film director, theatre director, author, magician and inventor, based in Britain from 1953.- Biography :...
. He also wrote radio dramas and documentaries for the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
. They were usually, but not always, based on his published works. For example, in 1977, he wrote an adaptation of John Buchan's The Three Hostages.
Personal
He was married to the artist Betty (Golby) Prebble. He had a daughter, Sarah Prebble, and two sons, Jolyon and actor and narrator Simon PrebbleSimon Prebble
Simon Prebble is an English actor and narrator.-Early life:Born and raised in Croydon, England, Simon Micawber Prebble is the son of the novelist, screenwriter and historian John Prebble and fashion artist Betty Prebble...
. His first wife died in 1993 and he married Jan Reid in 1994.
Fiction
- Where the Sea Breaks, Secker & Warburg, 1944
- Edge of Darkness, Secker and Warburg, 1947
- Age without Pity, Secker & Warburg, 1950
- The Brute Streets, Secker & Warburg, 1954
- The Mather Story, Secker & Warburg, 1954
- My Great-Aunt, Appearing Day, And Other Stories, Secker and Warburg, 1958
- The Buffalo Soldier, New York Harcourt, Brace & Company, 1959
- Spanish Stirrup, and other stories, Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 1973
History
- Disaster at Dundee, Harcourt, Brace & Co., 1956 (also published as High Girders: The Tay Bridge Disaster, 1879, Secker and Warburg, 1975)
- Culloden, Atheneum, 1962
- The Highland Clearances, Secker & Warburg, 1963
- Glencoe: The Story of the Massacre, Secker & Warburg, 1966
- The Lion in the North: A Personal View of Scotland's History, Penguin Books, 1973, ISBN 0-14-003652-0
- Darien: The Scottish Dream of Empire (also published as Darien: A Scots Colony in the New World, 1698-1700), 1968
- Mutiny: Highland Regiments in Revolt, 1743-1804, 1975, ISBN 0-14-004328-4
- The King's Jaunt: George IV in Scotland, August, 1822,, Birlinn Limited, Edinburgh, 2000, ISBN 1-84158-068-6 (originally published in 1988)
Other books
- Elephants and Ivory: True Tales of Hunting and Adventure, John Alfred Jordan (as told to John Prebble); also published as Mongaso Man Who Is Always Moving: The Story of an African Hunter John Alfred Jordan (1956)
- John Prebble's Scotland, Secker & Warburg, 1984, ISBN 0-436-38634-8
- Landscapes and Memories, An Intermittent Autobiography, Harper Collins, London, 1993 ISBN 0-00-215184-7
Films
- Culloden, BBC documentary, 1964 written by John Prebble and directed by Peter WatkinsPeter WatkinsPeter Watkins is an English film and television director. He was born in Norbiton, Surrey, lived in Sweden, Canada and Lithuania for many years, and now lives in France. He is one of the pioneers of docudrama. His movies, pacifist and radical, strongly review the limit of classic documentary and...
. - Zulu, screenplay