William Cooper (novelist)
Encyclopedia
Harry Summerfield Hoff was an English novelist, writing under the name William Cooper.
, the son of elementary school teachers , and read natural sciences at Christ's College, Cambridge
. After graduating in 1933 he was a teacher in Leicester
, an experience on which he seems to have drawn for his novel, Scenes from Provincial Life. Hoff served in the Signals Branch of the Royal Air Force
in World War II
, and later became a civil servant, associating closely with C. P. Snow
, who appears in light disguise as Robert in Scenes from Provincial Life and its sequels. Amongst his appointments he worked for the UK Atomic Energy Authority and the Crown Agents. After retiring he held an academic position with Syracuse University, New York, lecturing on English literature to its students in London.
Hoff wrote four novels between 1934 and 1946 under his own name but made his reputation with his first novel under the pen name William Cooper (used from then on), Scenes from Provincial Life (1950), the first of five more or less autobiographical novels published over the ensuing half century. It was hailed at once by writers such as Kingsley Amis
, Anthony Burgess
and John Braine
who wrote, 'This book was for me - and I suspect many others - a seminal influence' Deceptively simple in style and both comic and lyrical in tone, the novel tells of events in the lives of its narrator, Joe Lunn, a grammar school physics teacher, his girlfriend Myrtle, who wants him to marry her, his friend Tom, with whom he plans to emigrate to the USA, and various other characters in an English provincial town in the spring and summer of 1939. The novel's naturalism was a conscious rejection of the earlier modernist tradition of the English novel, which Hoff called the 'Art Novel'. Malcolm Bradbury
wrote of it that 'a good part of the literary styles and temper of the 1950s was set by this book.'
There followed, in order of writing, Scenes from Metropolitan Life, Scenes from Married Life (1961), Scenes from Later Life (1983) and Scenes from Death and Life (1999). Scenes from Metropolitan Life, although written in the mid-50s, remained unpublished until 1982, for legal reasons: the real life prototype for the character of Myrtle, central to the novel, had threatened to sue if it were published. Scenes from Death and Life, his last published work, was turned down by Hoff's publisher Macmillan
and was issued by a small independent company.
Hoff wrote 17 novels in all as well as short stories, two plays and a biography of his friend C.P.Snow. In 1971 he published an account of the trial of the two Hosein brothers, found guilty in 1970 of the kidnapping and murder of Mrs Muriel Mckay, who they had abducted in the belief that she was the wife of Rupert Murdoch
. His fictional works were invariably optimistic and often outrightly comic, but with an understated sympathy for those dealing with the problems of ordinary life. He had a straightforward and uncensorious attitude to the sex lives of his characters and a respect for the young, which gave even his later novels a freshness and a contemporary resonance.
In 1951 Hoff married Joyce Harris, who was the model for the central character of Scenes from Married Life and who died in 1988; they had two daughters.
series, You Can't Win, starring Ian McShane
.
Uncollected Short Stories
Plays
Non-fiction
Memoirs
Life
H.S.Hoff (William Cooper) was born in CreweCrewe
Crewe is a railway town within the unitary authority area of Cheshire East and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. According to the 2001 census the urban area had a population of 67,683...
, the son of elementary school teachers , and read natural sciences at Christ's College, Cambridge
Christ's College, Cambridge
Christ's College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge.With a reputation for high academic standards, Christ's College averaged top place in the Tompkins Table from 1980-2000 . In 2011, Christ's was placed sixth.-College history:...
. After graduating in 1933 he was a teacher in Leicester
Leicester
Leicester is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England, and the county town of Leicestershire. The city lies on the River Soar and at the edge of the National Forest...
, an experience on which he seems to have drawn for his novel, Scenes from Provincial Life. Hoff served in the Signals Branch of the Royal Air Force
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...
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...
, and later became a civil servant, associating closely with C. P. Snow
C. P. Snow
Charles Percy Snow, Baron Snow of the City of Leicester CBE was an English physicist and novelist who also served in several important positions with the UK government...
, who appears in light disguise as Robert in Scenes from Provincial Life and its sequels. Amongst his appointments he worked for the UK Atomic Energy Authority and the Crown Agents. After retiring he held an academic position with Syracuse University, New York, lecturing on English literature to its students in London.
Hoff wrote four novels between 1934 and 1946 under his own name but made his reputation with his first novel under the pen name William Cooper (used from then on), Scenes from Provincial Life (1950), the first of five more or less autobiographical novels published over the ensuing half century. It was hailed at once by writers such as Kingsley Amis
Kingsley Amis
Sir Kingsley William Amis, CBE was an English novelist, poet, critic, and teacher. He wrote more than 20 novels, six volumes of poetry, a memoir, various short stories, radio and television scripts, along with works of social and literary criticism...
, Anthony Burgess
Anthony Burgess
John Burgess Wilson – who published under the pen name Anthony Burgess – was an English author, poet, playwright, composer, linguist, translator and critic. The dystopian satire A Clockwork Orange is Burgess's most famous novel, though he dismissed it as one of his lesser works...
and John Braine
John Braine
John Gerard Braine was an English novelist. Braine is usually associated with the Angry Young Men movement.-Biography:...
who wrote, 'This book was for me - and I suspect many others - a seminal influence' Deceptively simple in style and both comic and lyrical in tone, the novel tells of events in the lives of its narrator, Joe Lunn, a grammar school physics teacher, his girlfriend Myrtle, who wants him to marry her, his friend Tom, with whom he plans to emigrate to the USA, and various other characters in an English provincial town in the spring and summer of 1939. The novel's naturalism was a conscious rejection of the earlier modernist tradition of the English novel, which Hoff called the 'Art Novel'. Malcolm Bradbury
Malcolm Bradbury
Sir Malcolm Stanley Bradbury CBE was an English author and academic.-Life:Bradbury was the son of a railwayman. His family moved to London in 1935, but returned to Sheffield in 1941 with his brother and mother...
wrote of it that 'a good part of the literary styles and temper of the 1950s was set by this book.'
There followed, in order of writing, Scenes from Metropolitan Life, Scenes from Married Life (1961), Scenes from Later Life (1983) and Scenes from Death and Life (1999). Scenes from Metropolitan Life, although written in the mid-50s, remained unpublished until 1982, for legal reasons: the real life prototype for the character of Myrtle, central to the novel, had threatened to sue if it were published. Scenes from Death and Life, his last published work, was turned down by Hoff's publisher Macmillan
Macmillan Publishers
Macmillan Publishers Ltd, also known as The Macmillan Group, is a privately held international publishing company owned by Georg von Holtzbrinck Publishing Group. It has offices in 41 countries worldwide and operates in more than thirty others.-History:...
and was issued by a small independent company.
Hoff wrote 17 novels in all as well as short stories, two plays and a biography of his friend C.P.Snow. In 1971 he published an account of the trial of the two Hosein brothers, found guilty in 1970 of the kidnapping and murder of Mrs Muriel Mckay, who they had abducted in the belief that she was the wife of Rupert Murdoch
Rupert Murdoch
Keith Rupert Murdoch, AC, KSG is an Australian-American business magnate. He is the founder and Chairman and CEO of , the world's second-largest media conglomerate....
. His fictional works were invariably optimistic and often outrightly comic, but with an understated sympathy for those dealing with the problems of ordinary life. He had a straightforward and uncensorious attitude to the sex lives of his characters and a respect for the young, which gave even his later novels a freshness and a contemporary resonance.
In 1951 Hoff married Joyce Harris, who was the model for the central character of Scenes from Married Life and who died in 1988; they had two daughters.
Literary technique
Snow and Hoff evidently discussed the technique of novel writing extensively; and their books show clear parallels, if not in subject matter, where Hoff took the 'low road'. The theme of habit (and also illness) that Snow seems rather consciously to borrow from Proust is used with greater subtlety; while on the other hand the view of people is perhaps deliberately cruder.Adaptations
In 1966 Scenes from Provincial Life and Scenes from Married Life were adapted for a seven-part ITV1ITV1
ITV1 is a generic brand that is used by twelve franchises of the British ITV Network in the English regions, Wales, southern Scotland , the Isle of Man and the Bailiwicks of Jersey and Guernsey. The ITV1 brand was introduced by Carlton and Granada in 2001, alongside the regional identities of their...
series, You Can't Win, starring Ian McShane
Ian McShane
Ian David McShane is an English actor, director, producer, voice artist, and comedian.Despite appearing in numerous films, McShane is best known for his television roles, particularly the BBC's Lovejoy and HBO's Western drama Deadwood...
.
Works
Novels- Trina (as H.S. Hoff) London, Heinemann, 1934; as It Happened in PRK, New York, Coward McCann, 1934.
- Rhéa (as H.S. Hoff). London, Heinemann, 1937.
- Lisa (as H.S. Hoff). London, Heinemann, 1937.
- Three Marriages (as H.S. Hoff). London, Heinemann, 1946.
- Scenes from Provincial Life. London, Cape, 1950.
- The Struggles of Albert Woods. London, Cape, 1952; New York, Doubleday, 1953.
- The Ever-Interesting Topic. London, Cape, 1953.
- Disquiet and Peace. London, Macmillan, 1956; Philadelphia, Lippincott, 1957.
- Young People. London, Macmillan, 1958.
- Scenes from Married Life. London, Macmillan, 1961.
- Scenes from Life (includes Scenes from Provincial Life and Scenes from Married Life). New York, Scribner, 1961.
- Memoirs of a New Man. London, Macmillan, 1966.
- You Want the Right Frame of Reference. London, Macmillan, 1971.
- Love on the Coast. London, Macmillan, 1973.
- You're Not Alone: A Doctor's Diary. London, Macmillan, 1976.
- Scenes from Metropolitan Life. London, Macmillan, 1982.
- Scenes from Later Life. London, Macmillan, 1983.
- Scenes from Provincial Life, and Scenes from Metropolitan Life. NewYork, Dutton, 1983.
- Scenes from Married Life, and Scenes from Later Life. New York, Dutton, 1984.
- Immortality at Any Price. London, Sinclair Stevenson, 1991.
- Scenes from Death and Life (1999)
Uncollected Short Stories
- Ball of Paper, in Winter's Tales 1. London, Macmillan, and NewYork, St. Martin's Press, 1955.
- A Moral Choice, in Winter's Tales 4. London, Macmillan, andNew York, St. Martin's Press, 1958.
Plays
- High Life (produced London, 1951).
- Prince Genji (1950; produced Oxford, 1968). London, Evans, 1959.
Non-fiction
- C.P. Snow. London, Longman, 1959; revised edition, 1971.
- Shall We Ever Know? The Trial of the Hosein Brothers for the Murder of Mrs. McKay. London, Hutchinson, 1971; as Brothers, New York, Harper, 1972.
Memoirs
- From Early Life. London, Macmillan, 1990.
External links
- William Cooper, Author of 'Scenes from Provincial Life'
- William Cooper biography, J.R. Rank Organisationhttp://biography.jrank.org/pages/4234/Cooper-William.html