Leonard Cottrell
Encyclopedia
Leonard Eric Cottrell was a prolific and popular British author
and journalist
. The majority of his books were popularisations of the archaeology of ancient Egypt.
, Wolverhampton
to William and Beatrice Cottrell née Tootell. His father inspired an interest in history at the age of ten. At King Edward's Grammar School, Birmingham
, Leonard was only interested in History and English, reading widely.
In the 1930s, Cottrell toured the English countryside on his motorcycle, visiting prehistoric stone circles, burial mounds of the Bronze Age
, medieval and Renaissance monuments. On these journeys he was often accompanied by Doris Swain, whom he later married although the marriage was dissolved in 1962. After gaining experience writing articles on historical subjects for motoring magazines, he wrote his first documentary for the BBC in 1937.
Leonard was rejected by the RAF
during World War II, for medical reasons, but he joined the BBC in 1942 and they stationed him, in 1944, in the Mediterranean with the RAF
as a war correspondent. His experiences as war correspondent formed the basis of his book All Men are Neighbours (1947). He worked at the BBC until 1960, when he resigned and moved to a house overlooking the estuary of the River Kent
in Westmoreland
, Cumbria
, where he stayed for the rest of his life, writing.
He was the editor of the Concise Encyclopaedia of Archaeology (1965).
Married and divorced twice, Doris Swain (in the 1930s, divorced 1962) and Diana Bonakis (married, 1965 - divorced, 1968). He had had no children by either marriage.
Leonard Cottrell died on the 6th October 1974.
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
and 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...
. The majority of his books were popularisations of the archaeology of ancient Egypt.
Details
Leonard Cottrell was born 2lst of May 1913 at TettenhallTettenhall
Tettenhall is a historic part of the city of Wolverhampton, England. The name Tettenhall is probably derived from Teotta's Halh, Teotta being a person's name and Halh being a sheltered position...
, Wolverhampton
Wolverhampton
Wolverhampton is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands, England. For Eurostat purposes Walsall and Wolverhampton is a NUTS 3 region and is one of five boroughs or unitary districts that comprise the "West Midlands" NUTS 2 region...
to William and Beatrice Cottrell née Tootell. His father inspired an interest in history at the age of ten. At King Edward's Grammar School, Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
, Leonard was only interested in History and English, reading widely.
In the 1930s, Cottrell toured the English countryside on his motorcycle, visiting prehistoric stone circles, burial mounds of the Bronze Age
Bronze Age
The Bronze Age is a period characterized by the use of copper and its alloy bronze as the chief hard materials in the manufacture of some implements and weapons. Chronologically, it stands between the Stone Age and Iron Age...
, medieval and Renaissance monuments. On these journeys he was often accompanied by Doris Swain, whom he later married although the marriage was dissolved in 1962. After gaining experience writing articles on historical subjects for motoring magazines, he wrote his first documentary for the BBC in 1937.
Leonard was rejected by the RAF
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...
during World War II, for medical reasons, but he joined the BBC in 1942 and they stationed him, in 1944, in the Mediterranean with the RAF
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...
as a war correspondent. His experiences as war correspondent formed the basis of his book All Men are Neighbours (1947). He worked at the BBC until 1960, when he resigned and moved to a house overlooking the estuary of the River Kent
River Kent
The River Kent is a short river in the county of Cumbria in England. The river originates in hills surrounding Kentmere, and flows for around 20 miles into the north of Morecambe Bay. The Lake District National Park includes the upper reaches of the river within its boundaries.The river passes...
in Westmoreland
Westmoreland
Westmoreland is a historic county in England. It may also refer to:-Places:Australia*Westmoreland County, New South WalesCanada*Westmorland County, New BrunswickJamaica*Westmoreland, Jamaica, a parishNew Zealand...
, Cumbria
Cumbria
Cumbria , is a non-metropolitan county in North West England. The county and Cumbria County Council, its local authority, came into existence in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972. Cumbria's largest settlement and county town is Carlisle. It consists of six districts, and in...
, where he stayed for the rest of his life, writing.
He was the editor of the Concise Encyclopaedia of Archaeology (1965).
Married and divorced twice, Doris Swain (in the 1930s, divorced 1962) and Diana Bonakis (married, 1965 - divorced, 1968). He had had no children by either marriage.
Leonard Cottrell died on the 6th October 1974.
Books
- The Lost Pharaohs (1950)
- The Quest for Sumer (1952)
- The Bull of Minos: the discoveries of Schliemann and Evans (1953)
- Life Under The Pharaohs (1955)
- The Mountains of Pharaoh (1956)
- Seeing Roman Britain (1956)
- The Anvil of Civilisation (1957)
- The Great Invasion (1958)
- Wonders of the World (1959)
- Land of the Pharaohs (1960)
- The Tiger of Chʻin: The Dramatic Emergence of China as a Nation (1962)
- Land of the Two Rivers (1962)
- Realms of Gold: A Journey in Search of the Mycenaeans (1963)
- The Lion Gate: A Journey in Search of the Mycenaeans (1963)
- Lost Cities (1963)
- Digs and diggers: a book of world archaeology (1964)
- The Secrets of Tutankhamen's Tomb (1964)
- Crete: Island of Mystery (1965)
- The Quest for Sumer (1965)
- The Land of Shinar (1965)
- Egypt (1965)
- Hannibal: Enemy of Rome (1965)
- A Guide to Roman Britain (1966)
- Great Leaders of Greece and Rome (1966)
- Lady of the two lands: five queens of ancient Egypt (1967)
- The Warrior Pharaohs (1968)
- Madame Tussaud (1970)
- The mystery of Minoan civilization (1971)
- Reading the Past: The Story of Deciphering Ancient Languages (1971)
- Lost Civilizations (1974)
- All Men are Neighbours (1947)
- One Man's journey