Susan Crosland
Encyclopedia
Susan Barnes Crosland was an American journalist and novelist long resident in London. She was the widow of the Labour Party
politician Anthony Crosland
.
Born Susan Barnes Watson in Baltimore, Maryland, the descendant of passengers on the Mayflower
, she was the daughter of Mark Skinner Watson, a defence correspondent for The Baltimore Sun
, later the publication's editor, and Anne Owens who was also a journalist. She graduated from Vassar College
and taught at the Baltimore Museum of Art
. In 1952 she married Patrick Skene Catling
, then working with her father, and relocated to London in 1956 when Catling was posted to the London office of The Baltimore Sun.
At a party during the year she met Anthony Crosland
shortly after The Future of Socialism
, his most significant book, had been published. Her first marriage collapsed in 1960, and she and Crosland married in 1964; they kept separate residences at first. By now she had begun to write for British newspapers, originally as Susan Barnes. Taken on by John Junor
of The Sunday Express just prior to her divorce, she freelanced after her second marriage, and specialised in writing features and profile articles. Following a period on the pre-Murdoch The Sun, Crosland worked for The Sunday Times
from 1970. Noted for her profiles she insisted on not interviewing the wives of 'great men' feeling that "they wanted to perpetuate the image". Labour politician Tony Benn
though, one of her subjects and a friend of her husband, persuaded Crosland not publish an article dedicated to himself (he had been allowed to vet it) which Benn considered unflattering. The interview was eventually published in The Spectator
during October 1987.
Anthony Crosland had a fatal stroke in February 1977. His wife had strongly supported him throughout his periods as a Cabinet Minister, culminating in his appointment as Foreign Secretary in 1976, was pressed to stand as the Labour candidate for his Grimsby constituency in the subsequent by-election. She declined, but subsequently wrote a well-received biography of him published in 1982. One friend she acquired in this period via the biography, Therese Lawson, second wife of the Conservative
politician Nigel Lawson
, once spoke of the impression Crosland made on her:
Resuming her writing career, a biography of Anthony Blunt
fell through after Crosland had already spent a third of the advance. George Weidenfeld, her publisher, suggested a novel instead, the result Ruling Passions appeared in 1989, the first of several works of fiction ending with The Politician's Wife in 2001. Crosland also assembled two volumes of collected journalism.
By the mid-1980s, Crosland had formed a deep platonic relationship with the conservative journalist Auberon Waugh
which lasted until his death in 2001. By then she had begun to suffer from severe arthritis
, thought to have had its origins in a riding accident she had suffered at eighteen, and acquired the MRSA
bacterium while in hospital having a hip replaced; the infection went undiagnosed for some time.
Susan Crosland is survived by her first husband and their two daughters.
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
politician Anthony Crosland
Anthony Crosland
Charles Anthony Raven Crosland , otherwise Tony Crosland or C.A.R. Crosland, was a British Labour Party politician and author. He served as Member of Parliament for South Gloucestershire and later for Great Grimsby...
.
Born Susan Barnes Watson in Baltimore, Maryland, the descendant of passengers on the Mayflower
Mayflower
The Mayflower was the ship that transported the English Separatists, better known as the Pilgrims, from a site near the Mayflower Steps in Plymouth, England, to Plymouth, Massachusetts, , in 1620...
, she was the daughter of Mark Skinner Watson, a defence correspondent for The Baltimore Sun
The Baltimore Sun
The Baltimore Sun is the U.S. state of Maryland’s largest general circulation daily newspaper and provides coverage of local and regional news, events, issues, people, and industries....
, later the publication's editor, and Anne Owens who was also a journalist. She graduated from Vassar College
Vassar College
Vassar College is a private, coeducational liberal arts college in the town of Poughkeepsie, New York, in the United States. The Vassar campus comprises over and more than 100 buildings, including four National Historic Landmarks, ranging in style from Collegiate Gothic to International,...
and taught at the Baltimore Museum of Art
Baltimore Museum of Art
The Baltimore Museum of Art in Baltimore, Maryland, United States, was founded in 1914. Built in the Roman Temple style, the Museum is home to an internationally renowned collection of 19th-century, modern, and contemporary art. Founded in 1914 with a single painting, the BMA today has 90,000 works...
. In 1952 she married Patrick Skene Catling
Patrick Skene Catling
Patrick Skene Catling is a British children's book author and book reviewer best known for writing The Chocolate Touch in 1952.-Background:Catling was born and schooled in London and was educated there and at Oberlin College in the United States...
, then working with her father, and relocated to London in 1956 when Catling was posted to the London office of The Baltimore Sun.
At a party during the year she met Anthony Crosland
Anthony Crosland
Charles Anthony Raven Crosland , otherwise Tony Crosland or C.A.R. Crosland, was a British Labour Party politician and author. He served as Member of Parliament for South Gloucestershire and later for Great Grimsby...
shortly after The Future of Socialism
The Future of Socialism
The Future of Socialism by Anthony Crosland, published in 1956, is regarded as one of the most influential books in post-war British Labour Party thinking and the seminal work of the 'revisionist' school of Labour politics....
, his most significant book, had been published. Her first marriage collapsed in 1960, and she and Crosland married in 1964; they kept separate residences at first. By now she had begun to write for British newspapers, originally as Susan Barnes. Taken on by John Junor
John Junor
Sir John Donald Brown Junor was a Scottish journalist and editor-in-chief of the Sunday Express, having previously worked as a columnist there. He then moved to the Mail on Sunday....
of The Sunday Express just prior to her divorce, she freelanced after her second marriage, and specialised in writing features and profile articles. Following a period on the pre-Murdoch The Sun, Crosland worked for The Sunday Times
The Sunday Times
The Sunday Times is a British Sunday newspaper.The Sunday Times may also refer to:*The Sunday Times *The Sunday Times *The Sunday Times *The Sunday Times...
from 1970. Noted for her profiles she insisted on not interviewing the wives of 'great men' feeling that "they wanted to perpetuate the image". Labour politician Tony Benn
Tony Benn
Anthony Neil Wedgwood "Tony" Benn, PC is a British Labour Party politician and a former MP and Cabinet Minister.His successful campaign to renounce his hereditary peerage was instrumental in the creation of the Peerage Act 1963...
though, one of her subjects and a friend of her husband, persuaded Crosland not publish an article dedicated to himself (he had been allowed to vet it) which Benn considered unflattering. The interview was eventually published in The Spectator
The Spectator
The Spectator is a weekly British magazine first published on 6 July 1828. It is currently owned by David and Frederick Barclay, who also owns The Daily Telegraph. Its principal subject areas are politics and culture...
during October 1987.
Anthony Crosland had a fatal stroke in February 1977. His wife had strongly supported him throughout his periods as a Cabinet Minister, culminating in his appointment as Foreign Secretary in 1976, was pressed to stand as the Labour candidate for his Grimsby constituency in the subsequent by-election. She declined, but subsequently wrote a well-received biography of him published in 1982. One friend she acquired in this period via the biography, Therese Lawson, second wife of the Conservative
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
politician Nigel Lawson
Nigel Lawson
Nigel Lawson, Baron Lawson of Blaby, PC , is a British Conservative politician and journalist. He was a Member of Parliament representing the constituency of Blaby from 1974–92, and served as the Chancellor of the Exchequer in the government of Margaret Thatcher from June 1983 to October 1989...
, once spoke of the impression Crosland made on her:
Some people make a deliberate stage entrance. Susan isn't like that but she does have a definite presence. Her voice has a slow, gentle, appealing laugh to it. It's not in the least bit raucous. Susan is much too ladylike for that. She has a particular American sense of humour which I appreciate.
Resuming her writing career, a biography of Anthony Blunt
Anthony Blunt
Anthony Frederick Blunt , was a British art historian who was exposed as a Soviet spy late in his life.Blunt was Professor of the History of Art at the University of London, director of the Courtauld Institute of Art, Surveyor of the King's Pictures and London...
fell through after Crosland had already spent a third of the advance. George Weidenfeld, her publisher, suggested a novel instead, the result Ruling Passions appeared in 1989, the first of several works of fiction ending with The Politician's Wife in 2001. Crosland also assembled two volumes of collected journalism.
By the mid-1980s, Crosland had formed a deep platonic relationship with the conservative journalist Auberon Waugh
Auberon Waugh
Auberon Alexander Waugh was a British author and journalist, son of the novelist Evelyn Waugh. He was known to his family and friends as Bron Waugh.-Life and career:...
which lasted until his death in 2001. By then she had begun to suffer from severe arthritis
Arthritis
Arthritis is a form of joint disorder that involves inflammation of one or more joints....
, thought to have had its origins in a riding accident she had suffered at eighteen, and acquired the MRSA
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus is a bacterium responsible for several difficult-to-treat infections in humans. It is also called multidrug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and oxacillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus...
bacterium while in hospital having a hip replaced; the infection went undiagnosed for some time.
Susan Crosland is survived by her first husband and their two daughters.