Robin Maugham
Encyclopedia
Robert Cecil Romer Maugham, 2nd Viscount Maugham (17 May 1916 – 13 March 1981), known as Robin Maugham, was a British novelist, playwright and travel writer.
, and Helen Romer. He was born into a legal dynasty and was expected to follow his father and grandfather and devote himself to the law. Although he qualified as a barrister he realised that his real calling was to follow his uncle William Somerset Maugham as a writer.
, Sussex, next to his parents.
Maugham bought the merchant ship MV Joyita
as a hulk in the early 1960s, writing about the mystery of the incident in his book The Joyita Mystery (1962). The ship had been lost at sea only to reappear five weeks later after a massive search found nothing, without crew or passengers, and with four tons of cargo missing.
He wrote an autobiography, Escape from the Shadows
(London: Hodder and Stoughton, 1972), and then a sequel Search for Nirvana (1975) and books about his uncle, as well as many other novels and plays.
in 1963, Line on Ginger by Guy Hamilton
in 1953, and The Rough and the Smooth by Robert Siodmak
in 1959.
Early life
Robin Maugham was the son of Frederic Maugham, 1st Viscount MaughamFrederic Maugham, 1st Viscount Maugham
Frederic Herbert Maugham, 1st Viscount Maugham PC, KC was a British lawyer and judge who served as Lord Chancellor from 1938 until 1939 despite having virtually no political career at all....
, and Helen Romer. He was born into a legal dynasty and was expected to follow his father and grandfather and devote himself to the law. Although he qualified as a barrister he realised that his real calling was to follow his uncle William Somerset Maugham as a writer.
Personal and family life
Described as "defiantly homosexual", but in fact bisexual, Lord Maugham never married, and the viscountcy became extinct upon his death. He died from an embolism, though an official cause of death was difficult to obtain as his body was apparently lost for forty-eight hours after his death. He had three sisters: Kate, Honor, and the novelist Diana Marr-Johnson (1908–2007). He is buried in HartfieldHartfield
Hartfield is a civil parish in East Sussex, England. Settlements within the parish include the village of Hartfield, Colemans Hatch, Hammerwood and Holtye, all lying on the northern edge of Ashdown Forest.-Geography:...
, Sussex, next to his parents.
Maugham bought the merchant ship MV Joyita
MV Joyita
MV Joyita was a merchant vessel from which 25 passengers and crew mysteriously disappeared in the South Pacific in 1955.-Construction:The 69-foot wooden ship was built in 1931 as a luxury yacht by the Wilmington Boat Works in Los Angeles for movie director Roland West...
as a hulk in the early 1960s, writing about the mystery of the incident in his book The Joyita Mystery (1962). The ship had been lost at sea only to reappear five weeks later after a massive search found nothing, without crew or passengers, and with four tons of cargo missing.
He wrote an autobiography, Escape from the Shadows
Escape From The Shadows
Escape From The Shadows is the 1972 autobiography of Robin Maugham, later the 2nd Viscount Maugham.The title refers to three huge shadows over Maugham’s life: his famous father, Frederick Herbert Maugham, his uncle, W. Somerset Maugham, and his homosexuality.The first part of the book concentrates...
(London: Hodder and Stoughton, 1972), and then a sequel Search for Nirvana (1975) and books about his uncle, as well as many other novels and plays.
Films
His first three novels were filmed: The Servant by Joseph LoseyJoseph Losey
Joseph Walton Losey was an American theater and film director. After studying in Germany with Bertolt Brecht, Losey returned to the United States, eventually making his way to Hollywood...
in 1963, Line on Ginger by Guy Hamilton
Guy Hamilton
Guy Hamilton is an English film director.Hamilton was born in Paris, France where his English parents were living. Remaining in France during the Nazi occupation, he was active in the French Resistance...
in 1953, and The Rough and the Smooth by Robert Siodmak
Robert Siodmak
Robert Siodmak was a German born American film director. He is best remembered as a thriller specialist and for the series of Hollywood film noirs he made in the 1940s.-Early life:...
in 1959.
Novels
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Biography and travel
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MV Joyita MV Joyita was a merchant vessel from which 25 passengers and crew mysteriously disappeared in the South Pacific in 1955.-Construction:The 69-foot wooden ship was built in 1931 as a luxury yacht by the Wilmington Boat Works in Los Angeles for movie director Roland West... Mystery (1962) |
Escape From The Shadows Escape From The Shadows is the 1972 autobiography of Robin Maugham, later the 2nd Viscount Maugham.The title refers to three huge shadows over Maugham’s life: his famous father, Frederick Herbert Maugham, his uncle, W. Somerset Maugham, and his homosexuality.The first part of the book concentrates... (London: Hodder and Stoughton, 1972): his autobiography |
Plays, speeches, television and radio
- 1955: The Leopard (play) set in TanganyikaTanganyikaTanganyika , later formally the Republic of Tanganyika, was a sovereign state in East Africa from 1961 to 1964. It was situated between the Indian Ocean and the African Great Lakes of Lake Victoria, Lake Malawi and Lake Tanganyika...
. Connaught TheatreConnaught TheatreThe Connaught Theatre is a Streamline Moderne-style theatre in the centre of Worthing, in West Sussex, England. Built as the Picturedrome cinema in 1914, the venue was extended in 1935 and became the new home of the Connaught Theatre . The theatre houses touring West End theatre productions,...
, Worthing - 1956: Mister Lear (play) Connaught Theatre, Worthing
- 1957: Rise Above It (Television) Produced by ABC. BBC Productions
- 1957: Odd Man In (play) Adaptation of Claude Magnier’s comedy Monsieur Masure. St Martin’s Theatre
- 1957: The Last Hero (play) Repertory Players, Strand TheatreStrand Theatre- England :* Royal Strand Theatre, London* Strand Theatre , London in the United States...
. The subject was the life of General Gordon - 1957: The Lonesome Road (Play) by Robin Maugham and Philip KingPhilip KingPhilip King may refer to:* Philip Gidley King , British colonial administrator* Philip King , American football player, coach, and lawyer* Philip Burke King , American geologist...
. Arts TheatreArts TheatreThe Arts Theatre is a theatre in Great Newport Street, in Westminster, Central London. It now operates as the West End's smallest commercial receiving house.-History:...
, London, (1957) - 1957: Winter in Ischia (Play) (not yet performed), see also 1965
- 1958: The Servant (play) Adaptation by Robin Maugham. Connaught Theatre, Worthing
- 1960: Slavery in Africa and Arabia (The House of Lords publication of his maiden speech; Hansard)
- 1960: The Two Wise Virgins of Hove (ITV Television)
- 1961: The Claimant (play) Connaught Theatre, Worthing
- 1962: Azouk (play) Adaptation of Alexandre Rivermale’s play by Robin Maugham and Willis HallWillis HallWillis Hall was an English playwright and radio and television writer who drew on his working class roots in Leeds for much of his writings....
. The Flora Robson Playhouse, Newcastle-upon-Tyne - 1962: The Last Hero (radio play) based on the life of General Gordon. Produced for BBC Radio, Saturday Night Theatre
- 1965: Winter in Ischia (television ITV), see also 1957
- 1966: Gordon of Khartoum (television BBC1)
- 1966: The Servant (play) The Yvonne Arnaud TheatreYvonne Arnaud TheatreThe Yvonne Arnaud Theatre in Guildford, Surrey presents in-house productions which often tour and transfer to London's West End. Other performances include opera, ballet and pantomime. Named after the actress Yvonne Arnaud, the company has two performance venues, a main theatre and the smaller Mill...
, Guildford - 1969: Enemy (play) Premiere, The Yvonne Arnaud Theatre Guildford
- 1969: Enemy (play) Saville TheatreSaville TheatreThe Saville Theatre is a former West End theatre at 135 Shaftesbury Avenue in the City of Westminster. The theatre opened in 1931, and became a music venue during the 1960s, finally being converted to a cinema in 1970.-Theatre years:...
, London - 1981: A Question of Retreat (play) Nightingale Theatre, Brighton; also adapted for a Radio 4, BBC production