P. H. Newby
Encyclopedia
Percy Howard Newby CBE
(25 June 1918 – 6 September 1997) was an English novelist and broadcasting administrator. He was the first winner of the Booker Prize, his novel Something to Answer For
having received the inaugural award in 1969.
in Worcestershire
, and St Paul's College of Education
in Cheltenham
. In October 1939 he was sent to France to serve in World War II
as a private in the Royal Army Medical Corps
. His unit was one of the last to be evacuated. Afterwards he was sent to the Middle East
and served in the Egypt
ian desert.
at King Fouad University
in Cairo
until 1946.
From 1949 to 1978 he was employed by the BBC
, beginning as a radio producer and going on to become successively Controller of the Third Programme and Radio Three
, Director of Programmes (Radio), and finally Managing Director, BBC Radio.
His first novel, A Journey into the Interior, was published in 1946. He then returned to England to write. In the same year he was given an Atlantic Award in literature, and two years thence he received the Somerset Maugham Prize.
He was awarded a CBE
for his work as Managing Director of BBC Radio
.
Author, friend and colleague Anthony Thwaite
in his obituary states: "P. H. Newby was one of the best English novelists of the second half of the century."
CBE
CBE and C.B.E. are abbreviations for "Commander of the Order of the British Empire", a grade in the Order of the British Empire.Other uses include:* Chemical and Biochemical Engineering...
(25 June 1918 – 6 September 1997) was an English novelist and broadcasting administrator. He was the first winner of the Booker Prize, his novel Something to Answer For
Something to Answer For
Something to Answer For is a novel by the English author P. H. Newby. Its chief claim to fame is that it was the winner of the inaugural Booker Prize, which would go on to become one of the major literary awards in the English-speaking world....
having received the inaugural award in 1969.
Early life
P.H. Newby, known as Howard Newby, was born in Crowborough, Sussex on 25 June 1918 and was educated at Hanley Castle Grammar SchoolHanley Castle High School
Hanley Castle High School, formerly called Hanley Castle Grammar School, was probably founded in 1326, making it one of the oldest schools in England. For much of the 20th century it was a boys grammar school that grew from about 50 to around 200 day-pupils and boarders. In 1972, the school...
in Worcestershire
Worcestershire
Worcestershire is a non-metropolitan county, established in antiquity, located in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes it is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three counties that comprise the "Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Warwickshire" NUTS 2 region...
, and St Paul's College of Education
University of Gloucestershire
The University of Gloucestershire is a university primarily based in Gloucestershire, England, spread over four campuses, three in Cheltenham and one in Gloucester...
in Cheltenham
Cheltenham
Cheltenham , also known as Cheltenham Spa, is a large spa town and borough in Gloucestershire, on the edge of the Cotswolds in the South-West region of England. It is the home of the flagship race of British steeplechase horse racing, the Gold Cup, the main event of the Cheltenham Festival held...
. In October 1939 he was sent to France to serve in World War II
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...
as a private in the Royal Army Medical Corps
Royal Army Medical Corps
The Royal Army Medical Corps is a specialist corps in the British Army which provides medical services to all British Army personnel and their families in war and in peace...
. His unit was one of the last to be evacuated. Afterwards he was sent to the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
and served in the Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
ian desert.
Career
Newby was released from military service in December 1942, and then taught English LiteratureEnglish literature
English literature is the literature written in the English language, including literature composed in English by writers not necessarily from England; for example, Robert Burns was Scottish, James Joyce was Irish, Joseph Conrad was Polish, Dylan Thomas was Welsh, Edgar Allan Poe was American, J....
at King Fouad University
Cairo University
Cairo University is a public university located in Giza, Egypt.The university was founded on December 21, 1908, as the result of an effort to establish a national center for educational thought...
in Cairo
Cairo
Cairo , is the capital of Egypt and the largest city in the Arab world and Africa, and the 16th largest metropolitan area in the world. Nicknamed "The City of a Thousand Minarets" for its preponderance of Islamic architecture, Cairo has long been a centre of the region's political and cultural life...
until 1946.
From 1949 to 1978 he was employed by 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...
, beginning as a radio producer and going on to become successively Controller of the Third Programme and Radio Three
BBC Radio 3
BBC Radio 3 is a national radio station operated by the BBC within the United Kingdom. Its output centres on classical music and opera, but jazz, world music, drama, culture and the arts also feature. The station is the world’s most significant commissioner of new music, and its New Generation...
, Director of Programmes (Radio), and finally Managing Director, BBC Radio.
His first novel, A Journey into the Interior, was published in 1946. He then returned to England to write. In the same year he was given an Atlantic Award in literature, and two years thence he received the Somerset Maugham Prize.
He was awarded a CBE
CBE
CBE and C.B.E. are abbreviations for "Commander of the Order of the British Empire", a grade in the Order of the British Empire.Other uses include:* Chemical and Biochemical Engineering...
for his work as Managing Director of BBC Radio
BBC Radio
BBC Radio is a service of the British Broadcasting Corporation which has operated in the United Kingdom under the terms of a Royal Charter since 1927. For a history of BBC radio prior to 1927 see British Broadcasting Company...
.
Author, friend and colleague Anthony Thwaite
Anthony Thwaite
Anthony Simon Thwaite, OBE, is an English poet and writer. He is married to the writer Ann Thwaite. He was awarded the OBE in 1992, for services to poetry. He was mainly brought up in Yorkshire and currently lives in Norfolk....
in his obituary states: "P. H. Newby was one of the best English novelists of the second half of the century."
Novels
- A Journey to the Interior (1945)
- Agents and Witnesses (1947)
- Mariner Dances (1948)
- The Loot Runners (1949)
- The Snow Pasture (1949)
- The Young May Moon (1950)
- A Season in England (1951)
- A Step to Silence (1952)
- The Retreat (1953)
- Picnic at Sakkara (1955)
- Revolution and Roses (1957)
- Ten Miles From Anywhere (1958)
- A Guest and His Going (1960)
- The Barbary Light (1962)
- One of the Founders (1965)
- Spirit of Jem (1967)
- Something to Answer ForSomething to Answer ForSomething to Answer For is a novel by the English author P. H. Newby. Its chief claim to fame is that it was the winner of the inaugural Booker Prize, which would go on to become one of the major literary awards in the English-speaking world....
(1968) - A Lot to Ask (1973)
- Kith (1977)
- Feelings Have Changed (1981)
- Leaning in the Wind (1986)
- Coming in with the Tide (1991)
- Something About Women (1995)
Non fiction
- Maria Edgeworth (1950)
- The Novel, 1945-1950 (1951)
- The Uses of Broadcasting (1978)
- The Egypt Story (1979)
- Warrior Pharaohs (1980)
- Saladin in His Time (1983)