Angus Wilson (1913-91)
Angus Wilson Web Sites
Chronology
- 1913
- Angus Wilson born at Bexhill, Sussex, the youngest of
six brothers.
- 1920-1924
- Lives in Durban, South Africa, with his mother's
relatives.
- 1924-1927
- Attends a preparatory school in Seaford, Sussex, run by
his second-eldest brother.
- 1927-1932
- Attends Westminster School as a day boy, while living
with his parents in various London hotels.
- 1929
- Death of Wilson's mother.
- 1932-1935
- Reads medieval history at Merton College, Oxford.
- 1936
- Obtains post at the British Museum, London (now the
British Library).
- 1938
- Death of Wilson's father.
- 1941-1944
- Works for Foreign Office Intelligence at their establishment at Bletchley Park, Buckinghamshire.
- 1946-1955
- At British Museum (from 1949 as Deputy Superintendent of the Reading Room).
- 1949
- The Wrong Set published.
- 1950
- Such Darling Dodos.
- 1952
- Emile Zola, February. Hemlock and After, July.
- 1953
- For Whom the Cloche Tolls.
- 1955
- Resigns from the British Museum. Keeps a flat in Dolphin Square, Pimlico, but also acquires a cottage at
Felsham Woodside, Bradfield St. George, Suffolk,
where he has continued to live. The Mulberry Bush first
performed by the Bristol Old Vic Company, 27
September.
- 1956
- The Mulberry Bush published, February; also performed
at the Royal Court Theatre, London, 2 April. Anglo-Saxon Attitudes, May. Book Society Fiction choice.
- 1957
- A Bit off the Map. The Mulberry Bush televised. Attends
(with Stephen Spender) P.E.N. Conference in japan.
- 1958
- The Middle Age of Mrs. Eliot, August. (Awarded the
James Tait Black Prize.) Fellow of the Royal Society of
Literature.
- 1960
- Ewing Lecturer, University of California, Los Angeles,
October. Moody Lecturer, University of Chicago.
- 1961
- Gives Northcliffe Lectures ("Evil in the English Novel"),
University of London. The Old Men at the Zoo, September.
- 1963
- The Wild Garden (expansion of the Ewing Lectures).
Play, "The Invasion", televised. Joins faculty of the
University of East Anglia (part-time).
- 1964
- Tempo: The Impact of Television on the Arts. Late Call, At-
tends (with William Golding) Leningrad Writers'
Congress.
- 1966
- Appointed Professor of English Literature (part-time),
University of East Anglia (retired 1973). Chairman of
the Literature Panel, Arts Council of Great Britain.
Participates in Adelaide Festival of the Arts, Australia.
- 1967
- Beckeman Professor, University of California, Berkeley.
No Laughing Matter.
- 1968
- Appointed C.B.E. Honorary Fellow, Cowell College,
University of California, Santa Cruz.
- 1970
- The World of Charles Dickens.
- 1971-1974
- Chairman of the National Book League.
- 1972
- Companion of Literature. Chevalier de l'Ordre des Arts
et des Lettres.
- 1973
- As If by Magic.
- 1974
- John Hinkley Visiting Professor, Johns Hopkins University. Late Call televised.
- 1976
- The Strange Ride of Rudyard Kipling.
- 1980
- Setting the World on Fire. Awarded a knighthood.
This extract is taken from Averil Gardner, Angus Wilson (Boston: Twayne Publishers, 1985)
Last updated: 13 January 1998.
If you know about any other Web sites related to the life and works of Angus Wilson, please e-mail me at matsuoka@lang.nagoya-u.ac.jp.
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