Walter Greenwood
Encyclopedia
Walter Greenwood was an English
novelist, best known for the socially influential novel Love on the Dole
(1933).
, the son of radical working-class parents. His father died when he was nine, and his mother supported him by working as a waitress. Like many children he left school at the age of 13 to work (as a pawnbroker's clerk). He took a succession of low paid jobs, and continued to educate himself in Salford Public Library. During periods of unemployment he worked for the local Labour Party
and began to write short stories.
While unemployed, he wrote his first novel, Love on the Dole
, in 1932. It was about the destructive social effects of poverty in his home town. After several rejections, it was published in 1933. It was a critical and commercial success, and a huge influence on the British public's view of unemployment. It even prompted Parliament to investigate, leading to reforms. The popularity of the novel, which was later adapted as a play that had successful runs in both England
and the United States
, meant Greenwood would not have to worry about employment again. He stayed in Salford for a while, and served on the council
, but soon moved to London. In 1937 he married Pearl Alice Osgood, an American actress and dancer.
Although he never matched the success of Love on the Dole
, he produced a succession of novels during the 1930s: His Worship the Major (1934), The Time is Ripe (1935), Standing Room Only, or 'A Laugh in Every Line (1936), Cleft Stick (1937), Only Mugs Work (1938), The Secret Kingdom (1938) and How the Other Man Lives (1939). He also cowrote a George Formby film, No Limit (1935).
While living in Polperro
, Cornwall, in 1938 Greenwood set up a production company, Greenpark Productions Ltd, which is still trading as a film archive.
During the Second World War
Greenwood produced films through Greenpark Productions Ltd for the British government, and served in the Royal Army Service Corp. 1944 saw the publication of Something in my Heart, and the end of his marriage to Pearl.
After the war he wrote the Trelooe trilogy – So Brief the Spring (1952), What Everybody Wants (1954) and Down by the Sea (1956) – and a few plays: Cure for Love (1945, filmed 1950), Date of West End opening "Jul. 12, 1945" Too Clever for Love (1952) and Saturday Night at the Crown (1958). He also co-wrote the film Chance of a Lifetime
in 1950, in a similar factory setting to Love on the Dole. In 1951 his book Lancashire in the County Books Series was published by Robert Hale. It has only five chapters of which the first four are short and the fifth (pp. 42-298) contains descriptions of the larger towns and a selection of other places. He retired to Douglas, Isle of Man
in the 1950s, and wrote an autobiography There Was a Time (1967) which became a play Hanky Park (1968).
His manuscripts and letters are archived in the University of Salford
's Walter Greenwood Collection.
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...
novelist, best known for the socially influential novel Love on the Dole
Love on the Dole
Love on the Dole is a novel by Walter Greenwood, about working class poverty in 1930s Northern England. It has been made into both a play and a film.-The novel:...
(1933).
Biography
Greenwood was born in Hanky Park, Salford then in LancashireLancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
, the son of radical working-class parents. His father died when he was nine, and his mother supported him by working as a waitress. Like many children he left school at the age of 13 to work (as a pawnbroker's clerk). He took a succession of low paid jobs, and continued to educate himself in Salford Public Library. During periods of unemployment he worked for the local Labour Party
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...
and began to write short stories.
While unemployed, he wrote his first novel, Love on the Dole
Love on the Dole
Love on the Dole is a novel by Walter Greenwood, about working class poverty in 1930s Northern England. It has been made into both a play and a film.-The novel:...
, in 1932. It was about the destructive social effects of poverty in his home town. After several rejections, it was published in 1933. It was a critical and commercial success, and a huge influence on the British public's view of unemployment. It even prompted Parliament to investigate, leading to reforms. The popularity of the novel, which was later adapted as a play that had successful runs in both 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...
and the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, meant Greenwood would not have to worry about employment again. He stayed in Salford for a while, and served on the council
City council
A city council or town council is the legislative body that governs a city, town, municipality or local government area.-Australia & NZ:Because of the differences in legislation between the States, the exact definition of a City Council varies...
, but soon moved to London. In 1937 he married Pearl Alice Osgood, an American actress and dancer.
Although he never matched the success of Love on the Dole
Love on the Dole
Love on the Dole is a novel by Walter Greenwood, about working class poverty in 1930s Northern England. It has been made into both a play and a film.-The novel:...
, he produced a succession of novels during the 1930s: His Worship the Major (1934), The Time is Ripe (1935), Standing Room Only, or 'A Laugh in Every Line (1936), Cleft Stick (1937), Only Mugs Work (1938), The Secret Kingdom (1938) and How the Other Man Lives (1939). He also cowrote a George Formby film, No Limit (1935).
While living in Polperro
Polperro
Polperro is a village and fishing harbour on the south-east Cornwall coast in South West England, UK, within the civil parish of Lansallos. Situated on the River Pol, 4 miles west of the neighbouring town of Looe and west of the major city and naval port of Plymouth, it is well-known for...
, Cornwall, in 1938 Greenwood set up a production company, Greenpark Productions Ltd, which is still trading as a film archive.
During the Second World War
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...
Greenwood produced films through Greenpark Productions Ltd for the British government, and served in the Royal Army Service Corp. 1944 saw the publication of Something in my Heart, and the end of his marriage to Pearl.
After the war he wrote the Trelooe trilogy – So Brief the Spring (1952), What Everybody Wants (1954) and Down by the Sea (1956) – and a few plays: Cure for Love (1945, filmed 1950), Date of West End opening "Jul. 12, 1945" Too Clever for Love (1952) and Saturday Night at the Crown (1958). He also co-wrote the film Chance of a Lifetime
Chance of a Lifetime (film)
Chance of a Lifetime is a 1950 British film starring, produced, part-written and directed by Bernard Miles. It was nominated for the 1951 BAFTA for Best British Film, to which it was beaten by The Blue Lamp.-Plot:...
in 1950, in a similar factory setting to Love on the Dole. In 1951 his book Lancashire in the County Books Series was published by Robert Hale. It has only five chapters of which the first four are short and the fifth (pp. 42-298) contains descriptions of the larger towns and a selection of other places. He retired to Douglas, Isle of Man
Douglas, Isle of Man
right|thumb|250px|Douglas Promenade, which runs nearly the entire length of beachfront in Douglasright|thumb|250px|Sea terminal in DouglasDouglas is the capital and largest town of the Isle of Man, with a population of 26,218 people . It is located at the mouth of the River Douglas, and a sweeping...
in the 1950s, and wrote an autobiography There Was a Time (1967) which became a play Hanky Park (1968).
His manuscripts and letters are archived in the University of Salford
University of Salford
The University of Salford is a campus university based in Salford, Greater Manchester, England with approximately 20,000 registered students. The main campus is about west of Manchester city centre, on the A6, opposite the former home of the physicist, James Prescott Joule and the Working Class...
's Walter Greenwood Collection.