Harold Hobson: Difference between revisions
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{{Short description|English drama critic and author (1904–1992)}} |
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{{Use British English|date=September 2016}} |
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==Early life and education== |
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He was born in [[Thorpe Hesley]] near [[Rotherham]] in [[South Yorkshire]], England and read History at [[University of Oxford|Oxford University]]. He was an assistant literary editor for the ''[[The Sunday Times (UK)|Sunday Times]]'' from 1944 and later became its drama critic (1947-76). He was the only drama critic to recognise [[Harold Pinter]]'s talent as a dramatist and wrote of ''[[The Birthday Party (play)|The Birthday Party]]'', "Pinter … possesses the most original, disturbing and arresting talent in theatrical London" [http://www.enotes.com/drama-criticism/pinter-harold]. During his career, he was to champion many other new playwrights, especially [[John Osborne]], [[Samuel Beckett]] and [[Tom Stoppard]]. He was also drama critic of the ''[[Christian Science Monitor]]'' (1931-74), wrote for ''Drama'' and ''[[The Listener]]'' and was a regular member of the radio programme ''The Critics''. In the 1960s, he was invited by [[Peter Hall (theatre director)|Peter Hall]] to join the board of the [[Royal National Theatre|National Theatre]]. |
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Hobson was born in [[Thorpe Hesley]] near [[Rotherham]] then in the [[West Riding of Yorkshire]], England. He attended [[Sheffield Grammar School]], from where he gained a scholarship to [[Oriel College]] at [[University of Oxford|Oxford University]], graduating with a second-class degree in Modern History in 1928.<ref name=ODMD>{{Cite ODNB|first=Michael|last=Billington| authorlink= Michael Billington (critic) |title=Hobson, Sir Harold (1904–1992)| year= 2004| url= http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/51130}}</ref> |
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==Career== |
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He wrote a number of books relating to British and French theatre, including his autobiography entitled ''Indirect Journey'' (1978) and a personal history based on his work as a drama critic ''Theatre in Britain'' (1984). |
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In 1931, he began to write London theatre reviews for ''[[The Christian Science Monitor]]''. In 1935, he was employed on the paper's staff, remaining its London drama critic until 1974.<ref name=ODMD /> He was an assistant literary editor for ''[[The Sunday Times]]'' from 1944 and later became its drama critic (1947–76). |
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Hobson was the only drama critic to recognise the early [[Harold Pinter]]'s talent as a dramatist<ref>{{cite news| first= Peter |last= Hall| url= https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2003/jan/04/theatre.beckettat100 |title= Godotmania| work= [[The Guardian]]| date= 4 January 2003}}</ref> and wrote of ''[[The Birthday Party (play)|The Birthday Party]]'': "I am willing to risk whatever reputation I have as a judge of plays by saying ... that Mr Pinter, on the evidence of this work, possesses the most original, disturbing and arresting talent in theatrical London."<ref>{{cite news| first= Michael |last= Billington| url= https://www.theguardian.com/books/2008/may/03/theatre.stage |title= Fighting talk| work= The Guardian| date= 3 May 2008| access-date= }} (on 50th anniversary of the opening of ''The Birthday Party'' at the [[Lyric Hammersmith]])</ref> During his career, he was to champion many other new playwrights, especially [[John Osborne]], [[Samuel Beckett]] and [[Tom Stoppard]]. |
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Harold Hobson received a knighthood from [[Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom|Queen Elizabeth II]] in 1977. |
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Hobson also wrote for ''Drama'' and ''[[The Listener (magazine)|The Listener]]'' and was a regular member of the [[BBC radio]] programme ''The Critics''. He was invited by [[Peter Hall (theatre director)|Peter Hall]] to join the board of the [[Royal National Theatre|National Theatre]]. |
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He wrote books relating to British and French theatre, including his autobiography ''Indirect Journey'' (1978), and a personal history based on his work as a drama critic, ''Theatre in Britain'' (1984). He also wrote a novel, ''The Devil in Woodford Wells'' (1946).<ref>{{cite web |title=The devil in Woodford Wells: a fantastic novel |url= https://apps.lords.org/lords/tours-and-museum/museum/searchthecollections/artefactdetails/Library/3279?page=7 |website= lords.org| publisher= Lord's |access-date=17 May 2020}}</ref> |
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Harold Hobson was made a [[Commander of the Order of the British Empire]] in 1971, and [[Orders,_decorations,_and_medals_of_the_United_Kingdom#Knighthood|knighted]] in 1977.<ref name= ODMD/> |
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==References== |
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[[Category:Alumni of Oriel College, Oxford]] |
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[[Category:The Christian Science Monitor people]] |
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[[Category:People from Rotherham]] |
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[[Category:People educated at Sheffield Grammar School]] |
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[[Category:Commanders of the Order of the British Empire]] |
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Latest revision as of 13:03, 31 January 2024
Sir Harold Hobson CBE, (4 August 1904 – 12 March 1992) was an English drama critic and author.
Early life and education[edit]
Hobson was born in Thorpe Hesley near Rotherham then in the West Riding of Yorkshire, England. He attended Sheffield Grammar School, from where he gained a scholarship to Oriel College at Oxford University, graduating with a second-class degree in Modern History in 1928.[1]
Career[edit]
In 1931, he began to write London theatre reviews for The Christian Science Monitor. In 1935, he was employed on the paper's staff, remaining its London drama critic until 1974.[1] He was an assistant literary editor for The Sunday Times from 1944 and later became its drama critic (1947–76).
Hobson was the only drama critic to recognise the early Harold Pinter's talent as a dramatist[2] and wrote of The Birthday Party: "I am willing to risk whatever reputation I have as a judge of plays by saying ... that Mr Pinter, on the evidence of this work, possesses the most original, disturbing and arresting talent in theatrical London."[3] During his career, he was to champion many other new playwrights, especially John Osborne, Samuel Beckett and Tom Stoppard.
Hobson also wrote for Drama and The Listener and was a regular member of the BBC radio programme The Critics. He was invited by Peter Hall to join the board of the National Theatre.
He wrote books relating to British and French theatre, including his autobiography Indirect Journey (1978), and a personal history based on his work as a drama critic, Theatre in Britain (1984). He also wrote a novel, The Devil in Woodford Wells (1946).[4]
Harold Hobson was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1971, and knighted in 1977.[1]
References[edit]
- ^ a b c Billington, Michael (2004). "Hobson, Sir Harold (1904–1992)". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
- ^ Hall, Peter (4 January 2003). "Godotmania". The Guardian.
- ^ Billington, Michael (3 May 2008). "Fighting talk". The Guardian. (on 50th anniversary of the opening of The Birthday Party at the Lyric Hammersmith)
- ^ "The devil in Woodford Wells: a fantastic novel". lords.org. Lord's. Retrieved 17 May 2020.
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- 1904 births
- 1992 deaths
- British male journalists
- British theatre critics
- Knights Bachelor
- The Sunday Times people
- Alumni of Oriel College, Oxford
- The Christian Science Monitor people
- People from Rotherham
- People educated at Sheffield Grammar School
- Commanders of the Order of the British Empire
- English writer stubs
- British journalist stubs