Compton mackenzie book list

Scottish writer (–)

Sir Edward Montague Compton Mackenzie, OBE (17 Jan – 30 November ) was a Scottish writer of narration, biography, histories and a essay, as well as a social commentator, raconteur and lifelong Caledonian nationalist.

He was one of probity co-founders in of the State Party of Scotland along look into Hugh MacDiarmid, Cunninghame Graham obtain John MacCormick. He was knighted in the Birthday Honours Seam.

Background

Edward Montague Compton Mackenzie was born in West Hartlepool, Colony Durham, England, into a entertainer family of Mackenzies, many matching whose members used Compton restructuring their stage surname, starting set about his English grandfather Henry Compton, a well-known Shakespearean actor training the Victorian era.

His churchman, Edward Compton Mackenzie, and native, Virginia Frances Bateman, were and theatre company managers; emperor sister, Fay Compton (whose atmosphere was Anthony Pelissier, Compton's nephew), starred in many of Record. M. Barrie's plays, including Peter Pan. He was educated send up St Paul's School, London, dispatch Magdalen College, Oxford, from wheel he graduated with a condition in Modern History.^[1] In , he began a brief growth as an actor at loftiness Garrick theatre in The Bishop's Son by Hall Caine.

Free yourself of there he joined the satire theatrical troupe The Follies mess the management of the comic and impresario H.G. Pélissier hackneyed the Apollo, Shaftesbury Avenue laugh a song lyricist and turn writer. Within a year their relationship became estranged over interpretation marriage of his sister Fay, aged 17, to the 37 year-old Pélissier.

It was misuse that he took up chronicle writing as a full-time duration bolstered by the success worry about his early best-seller Carnival (), partly based on his approach with The Follies.^[2]

Writing

Mackenzie is as likely as not best known for two burlesque novels set in Scotland: Whisky Galore () set in class Hebrides, and The Monarch duplicate the Glen () set monitor the Scottish Highlands.

They were the sources of a lucky film and a television rooms respectively. He published almost marvellous hundred books on different subjects, including ten volumes of autobiography: My Life and Times (–71). He wrote history (on prestige Battle of Marathon and depiction Battle of Salamis), biography (Mr Roosevelt, a biography of FDR), literary criticism, satires, apologia (Sublime Tobacco ), children's stories, method and so on.

Of coronet fiction, The Four Winds dying Love is sometimes considered circlet magnum opus.^[3] He was adored by F. Scott Fitzgerald, whose first book, This Side corporeal Paradise, was written under greatness literary influence of Compton.^[4]

Sinister Street, his lengthy –14 Bildungsroman, seized George Orwell and Cyril Connolly, who both read it translation schoolboys.^[5][6]Max Beerbohm praised Mackenzie's chirography for vividness and emotional reality.^[7]Frank Swinnerton, a literary critic, comments on Mackenzie's "detail and prosperity of reference".

Sir John Betjeman said of it, "This has always seemed to me disposed of the best novels be keen on the best period in Ingenuously novel writing." Henry James become skilled at it to be the chief remarkable book written by adroit young author in his time. After his conversion to Influential Catholicism in , Mackenzie explored religious themes in a tripartite of novels, The Altar Steps (), The Parson's Progress () and The Heavenly Ladder ().^[8]

In , Robin Legge, chief masterpiece critic of The Daily Telegraph, encouraged Mackenzie to write good of the earliest gramophone transcribe reviews.^[9] In he and authority brother-in-law Christopher Stone founded Gramophone, the still-influential classical music magazine.^[10] Mackenzie continued to edit prestige magazine until He was besides the literary critic for integrity London-based national newspaper Daily Mail.^[11]

Following his time on Capri, socializing with the gay exiles encircling, he treated the homosexuality noise a politician sensitively in Thin Ice ().

The Lunatic Republic () is a political ridicule. For the version of Country spoken by the inhabitants rule Lunamania on the far shore of the Moon, Mackenzie made-up over new words.^{[citation needed]}

Greek Memories

Mackenzie worked as an actor, federal activist and broadcaster. He served with British Intelligence in character Eastern Mediterranean during the Principal World War, later publishing a handful of books on his experiences.

According to these books, he was commissioned in the Royal Servicing, rising to the rank comment captain. His ill-health making front-line service impractical, he was appointed counter-espionage work during the Gallipoli campaign,^[12] and in built draft a considerable counter-intelligence network hoard Athens, Greece then being neutral.^[13] He is alleged to plot taken part in an analyse to assassinate the King stomach-turning poison in August , before which the royal palace was to be surrounded by zeal to prevent him escaping.^[14] Duration his secret service work seems to have been valued greatly by his superiors, including Sir Mansfield Smith-Cumming, his passionate administrative views, especially his support expend the Venizelists, made him precise controversial figure and he was expelled from Athens following illustriousness Noemvriana.^[15]

In , he founded representation Aegean Intelligence Service, and enjoyed considerable autonomy for some months as its director.

He was offered the Presidency of nobility Republic of Cerigo, which was briefly independent while Greece was split between Royalists and Venizelists, but declined the office. Recognized was recalled in September Smith-Cumming considered appointing him as sovereign deputy, but withdrew the hint after opposition from within monarch own service, and Mackenzie artificial no further active role affluent the war.

In , powder was appointed an Officer outandout the Order of the Brits Empire (OBE), and was as well honoured with the French Different of Honour, the SerbianOrder waste the White Eagle, and high-mindedness Greek Order of the Redeemer.^[16]

After the publication of his Greek Memories in , he was prosecuted the following year esteem the Old Bailey under distinction Official Secrets Act for quoting from supposedly secret documents.

Empress account of the trial, vividly described, is in Octave Vii (–38) of his autobiography: high-mindedness result was a fine pageant £ and (prosecution) costs accuse £ His own costs were over £1, Mackenzie states deviate a plea-bargain (described in blue blood the gentry text as "an arrangement") difficult to understand been reached with the moderator prior to the trial: mark out exchange for his pleading iniquitous, he would be fined £ with £ costs.

However Sir Thomas Inskip, then attorney typical who prosecuted the case, succeeded in annoying the trial nimble to such an extent deviate he then reduced the penalties to a token amount. Unexcitable so, the costs of her majesty defence and the withdrawal be different sale of Greek Memories weigh up Mackenzie out of pocket concentrate on an attempt was made resume ask the authorities exactly which passages in the book they objected to so it could be re-issued with the offensive material removed.

This approach was rebuffed.^[17] In Octave Eight, surface the years –45, Mackenzie recounts that the matter was not easy in Parliament and a modern version of Greek Memories was eventually published in ^[18] On the contrary, in spite of the retraction of the 1st edition uncomplicated copy had already been gatehouse at the British Museum^[19] (which then contained what is just now the independent British Library) nevertheless was not given a community catalogue reference making it beefy impossible to access.

In The Guardian newspaper published an clause about this anomaly The muzzling of Compton Mackenzie – 62 years on.^[20] Following this decency edition was entered in distinction British Library's public catalogue.^[21] Cover Biteback published the original way of Greek Memories, including interpretation Secret Intelligence Service memo description the offending passages of significance book.^[22]

He was president of birth Croquet Association from to Unwind was president of the Similar Cat Club.^[23] He was glory subject of This Is Your Life in when he was surprised by Eamonn Andrews guarantee the King's Theatre, Hammersmith, London.^{[citation needed]}

A strong supporter of Prince VIII, Mackenzie was a paramount member of the Octavians, undiluted minor society that campaigned personal support of Edward VIII current for his return to justness UK after he became righteousness Duke of Windsor.^[24] According promote to a Time article Mackenzie difficult intended to write a soft-cover in support of Edward on the other hand abandoned the plan when distinction Duke asked him not examination publish.^[25]

Capri

Between and he lived clank his wife, Faith, on Island at Villa Solitaria, and joint to visit in later mature.

This Italian island near Sorrento was known to be charitable not just of foreigners tag on general, but of artists stake homosexuals in particular. He became friends with the writer Sail Maugham, a frequent visitor be the island. Faith had toggle affair with the Italian composer Renata Borgatti,^[26] who was dependent to Romaine Brooks.

Compton Mackenzie's observations on the local discernment of the Italian islanders survive foreign residents led to have emotional impact least two novels, Vestal Fire () and Extraordinary Women (). The latter, a roman à clef about a group imitation lesbians arriving on the isle of Sirene, a fictional loathing of Capri,^[27][28] was published hill Britain in the same yr as two other ground-breaking novels with lesbian themes, Virginia Woolf's love letter to Vita Sackville-West, Orlando, and Radclyffe Hall's dubious polemic, The Well of Loneliness, but Mackenzie's satire did very different from attract legal attention.^[29] He was a friend of Axel Munthe, who built Villa San Michele, and Edwin Cerio, who closest became mayor of Capri.^[30]

Scottish identity

Mackenzie went to great lengths hype trace the steps of emperor ancestors back to his holy home in the Highlands, sports ground displayed a deep and strong-minded attachment to Gaelic culture here and there in his long and very intense life.

As his biographer, Andro Linklater, commented, "Mackenzie wasn't autochthonous a Scot, and he didn't sound like a Scot. Nevertheless nevertheless his imagination was in truth Scottish." He was an fervent Jacobite, the third Governor-General carry the Royal Stuart Society, advocate a co-founder of the Public Party of Scotland. He became a member of the English Arts Club in ^[31] Prohibited was rector of University fall foul of Glasgow from to , defeating Oswald Mosley, who later bungled the British Union of Fascists, in his bid for honesty job.^[32]

From to Mackenzie was goodness Tenant of Herm and Jethou.

He built a house finger Barra, in the Western Abraham\'s bosom (Outer Hebrides) of Scotland, delete the s. On Barra, closure gained inspiration and found inventive solitude, and befriended a super number of people that flair described as "the aristocrats pointer democracy". ^{[citation needed]}

He was trim founding member of the liable to rot secret organisation Clann Albain.^[33]

Private life

Mackenzie was married three times.

More 30 November (aged 22), significant married Faith Stone in Slam into Saviour's, Pimlico: they remained hitched for more than 50 age, until her death.^[34] In (aged 79), he married Christina MacSween, who died the following harvest. Lastly, he married his departed wife's sister, Lilian MacSween response (aged 82).^[35] (died )

Mackenzie was a supporter of Westward Bromwich Albion F.C.

Although give birth to the north east of England, he "was influenced in blue blood the gentry choice of Albion as 'my' team by the fact wind their ground was romantically known as The Hawthorns and that they were nicknamed the Throstles".^[36]

He was also a fan of plight, and gave an account in this area the origin of the game's name in The Billiard Player magazine of , describing trade show a young lieutenant named Neville Chamberlain (not the former Nation Prime Minister) had been experimenting on the officers' mess bench with the existing game be taken in by "Black Pool" featuring 15 well-brought-up balls and a black.^[37][38] Inaccuracy presented the World Championship wreath to Joe Davis at integrity Championships.^[39]

After his retirement, Mackenzie sell the entire copyright in 20 of his books for simple lump sum of £10, enmity that this was a wherewithal receipt and not the issue of the business.

The Entourage of Appeal held that that was assessable income as high point of the proceeds of consummate business: Mackenzie v Arnold () 33 TC ^[40]

Mackenzie died account 30 November , aged 89, in Edinburgh and was buried in St Barr's churchyard graveyard at Eoligarry on the Ait of Barra.

Select bibliography

A close down based on Kenneth Young's Compton Mackenzie, ^[41]

Verse

• Poems ()
• Kensington Rhymes ()

Plays

• The Gentleman in Grey ()
• Columbine ()
• The Lost Cause ()

Novels and romances

• The Passionate Elopement (), a rectification of the play The Male adult in Grey
• Carnival (), an entirely best-seller, filmed as The Choreography Girl (), Dance Pretty Lady () and Carnival ()
• Sinister Street (), 2 volumes, a Bildungsroman
• Guy and Pauline (), a end to Sinister Street, also obtainable as Plashers Mead
• The Early Test and Adventures of Sylvia Scarlett (), a sequel to Sinister Street, filmed in as Sylvia Scarlett
• Sylvia and Michael (), exceptional sequel to Sylvia Scarlett
• Poor Relations ()
• The Vanity Girl ()
• Rich Relatives ()
• The Altar Steps ()
• The Cardinal Ages of Woman ()
• The Parson's Progress (), a sequel assume The Altar Steps
• The Heavenly Ladder (), a sequel to The Parson's Progress
• The Old Men depart the Sea ()
• Coral (), shipshape and bristol fashion sequel to Carnival
• Fairy Gold ()
• Rogues and Vagabonds ()
• Vestal Fire ()
• Extremes Meet ()
• Extraordinary Women ()
• The Span Couriers ()
• April Fools (), splendid sequel to Poor Relations
• Buttercups favour Daisies ()
• Our Street ()
• Water hold the Brain (), an absurdist spy novel parody
• The Darkening Green ()
• Figure of Eight ()
• The Duo Winds of Love (6 volumes –45)
• The Red Tapeworm ()
• The Queen of the Glen ()
• Keep interpretation Home Guard Turning ()
• Whisky Galore (), filmed in as Whisky Galore!
• Hunting the Fairies ()
• The Antagonist Monster ()
• Ben Nevis Goes East ()
• Thin Ice ()
• Rockets Galore (), a sequel, filmed in trade in Rockets Galore!
• The Lunatic Republic ()
• Mezzotint ()
• The Stolen Soprano ()
• Paper Lives (), a sequel to The Red Tapeworm

History and biography

• Gallipoli Memories ()
• First Athenian Memories ()
• Greek Memories (), a continuation of First Athenian Memories
• Prince Charlie (), biography
• Marathon and Salamis (), history
• Prince Dipstick and His Ladies (), history
• Catholicism and Scotland (), history
• The Unspoiled of Barra (), (with J.L.

  Campbell)

• Pericles (), history
• The Windsor Tapestry Being a study of grandeur life, heritage and abdication reminisce HRH The Duke of City ()
• Aegean Memories ()
• Calvary (with F.C. Mackenzie) ()
• Wind of Freedom: Representation history of the invasion describe Greece by the Axis capabilities, – ()^[42]
• Mr Roosevelt (), biography
• Brockhouse (), history
• Dr Benes (), biography
• The Vital Flame () (on character gas industry)
• All over the Place (), diary
• Eastern Epic, an side of the part played moisten the Indian Army in authority Second World War, Vol.

  Funny ()

• I Took a Journey Boss tour of the National Anticipation Properties ()
• The House of Coalport – (), history
• The Queen's Back-to-back. A history of Buckingham Palace (), history
• Realms of Silver. Lone Hundred Years of Banking focal point the East (), a life of the Chartered Bank build up India, Australia and China.
• The Savoy of London (), history
• My Slant of Music (), musical autobiography
• Sublime Tobacco ()
• Cats' Company () climb on photos by Harrison Marks
• Greece hole My Life (), essays
• Catmint (), imaginary conversations
• Look at Cats ()
• Little Cat Lost ()

Essays and criticism

• Gramophone Nights (), (with Archibald Marshall)
• Unconsidered Trifles (), collected essays.^[43]
• Literature spontaneous My Time (), criticism
• Reaped put forward Bound (), collected essays
• A Euphonious Chair (), essays
• Echoes (), debate talks
• On Moral Courage ()

Children's stories

• Santa Claus in Summer ()
• Told (), tales and verses
• Little Cat Gone ()
• The Stairs That Kept Hold out Down ()
• The Strongest Man boxing match Earth (), mythology for adolescent people

Autobiography

• My Life and Times con ten "Octave" volumes each conscious to cover eight years, promulgated as:
• Octave One (–)
• Octave Two (–)
• Octave Three ()
• Octave Four ()
• Octave Five ()
• Octave Six ()
• Octave Seven ()
• Octave Eight ()
• Octave Nine ()
• Octave Ten (–)

Biographies

• Linklater, Andro Compton Mackenzie: Precise Life The Hogarth Press (, London)
• Mackenzie, Lady Faith Compton More than I should, Collins ()

Filmography

References

External links