Beverley Nichols
Encyclopedia
John Beverley Nichols was an author, playwright, journalist, composer, and public speaker.
magazine (1946–1967).
Nichols is now best remembered for his gardening books, the first of which, Down the Garden Path, was illustrated — as were its two sequels — by Rex Whistler
. This bestseller — which has had 32 editions and has been in print almost continuously since first published in 1932 — was the first of his trilogy
about Allways, his Tudor
thatched cottage in Glatton
, Cambridgeshire
. The books are written in a poetic maner, with a rich, creative language, evoking emotional and sensual responses,
but also with a lot of humor and even a hint of irony. A book about his city garden near Hampstead Heath
in London, Green Grows the City, published in 1939, was another big best seller. That book introduced Arthur R. Gaskin, who was Nichols’s manservant from 1924 until Gaskin's death in 1966. Gaskin was a popular character, who also appeared in the succeeding gardening books. In a late book, Down the Kitchen Sink, dedicated in memory of Gaskin, Nichols said Gaskin's first name was Reginald, and in a late book by Wodehouse, that author gives Jeeves the first name Reginald. One may draw an obvious conclusion since Nichols and Wodehouse were well acquainted with each other.
A later trilogy written between 1951 and 1956 documents Nichols's travails renovating Merry Hall (Meadowstream), a Georgian
manor house in Agates Lane, Ashtead
, Surrey
, where Nichols lived from 1946 to 1956. These books often feature his gifted but laconic gardener "Oldfield". Nichols's final trilogy is referred to as "The Sudbrook Trilogy" (1963–1968) and concerns his late 18th-century attached cottage at Ham, (near Richmond), Surrey
.
Nichols wrote on a wide range of topics, always looking for "the next big thing." As examples, he ghostwrote
Dame Nellie Melba’s 1925 "autobiography" Memories and Melodies (he was at the time her personal secretary - his 1933 book Evensong was believed based on aspects of her life). In 1966 he wrote A Case of Human Bondage about the marriage and divorce of writer William Somerset Maugham and his interior-decorator wife, Syrie
, which was highly critical of Maugham. Father Figure, which appeared in 1972 and in which he described how he had tried to murder his alcoholic and abusive father, caused a great uproar and several people asked for his prosecution. His book about spiritualism was not well received, which disappointed him.
His main interest apart from the writing of his books was gardening, especially garden design and winter flowers. Among his huge acquaintance in all walks of life, were many famous gardeners including Constance Spry and Lord Aberconway, who was President of the RHS and owner of the Bodnant garden in North Wales.
Nichols made one appearance on film - in 1931 he appeared in Glamour, directed by Seymour Hicks
and Harry Hughes
, playing the small part of the Hon. Richard Wells. The film is now lost.
, and went to Balliol College
, Oxford University, and was President of the Oxford Union
and editor of Isis.
Nichols' life partner was Cyril Butcher. Nichols died in 1983. He is buried in Glatton
, England.
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Career
Between his first book, the novel Prelude, published in 1920, and his last, a book of poetry, Twilight, published in 1982, Nichols wrote more than 60 books and plays. Besides novels, mysteries, short stories, essays and children's books, he wrote a number of non-fiction books on travel, politics, religion, cats, parapsychology, and autobiography. He wrote for a number of magazines and newspapers throughout his life, the longest being weekly columns for the London Sunday Chronicle newspaper (1932–1943) and Woman's OwnWoman's Own
Woman's Own is a British lifestyle magazine aimed at women.Woman's Own was first published in 1932. It is one of the UK's most famous women's magazines and is published by IPC Media....
magazine (1946–1967).
Nichols is now best remembered for his gardening books, the first of which, Down the Garden Path, was illustrated — as were its two sequels — by Rex Whistler
Rex Whistler
Reginald John 'Rex' Whistler was a British artist, designer and illustrator.-Biography:Rex Whistler was born in Eltham, Kent, the son of Henry and Helen Frances Mary Whistler...
. This bestseller — which has had 32 editions and has been in print almost continuously since first published in 1932 — was the first of his trilogy
Trilogy
A trilogy is a set of three works of art that are connected, and that can be seen either as a single work or as three individual works. They are commonly found in literature, film, or video games...
about Allways, his Tudor
Tudor style architecture
The Tudor architectural style is the final development of medieval architecture during the Tudor period and even beyond, for conservative college patrons...
thatched cottage in Glatton
Glatton
Glatton – in Huntingdonshire , England – is a village near Connington south of Yaxley and Stilton....
, Cambridgeshire
Cambridgeshire
Cambridgeshire is a county in England, bordering Lincolnshire to the north, Norfolk to the northeast, Suffolk to the east, Essex and Hertfordshire to the south, and Bedfordshire and Northamptonshire to the west...
. The books are written in a poetic maner, with a rich, creative language, evoking emotional and sensual responses,
but also with a lot of humor and even a hint of irony. A book about his city garden near Hampstead Heath
Hampstead Heath
Hampstead Heath is a large, ancient London park, covering . This grassy public space sits astride a sandy ridge, one of the highest points in London, running from Hampstead to Highgate, which rests on a band of London clay...
in London, Green Grows the City, published in 1939, was another big best seller. That book introduced Arthur R. Gaskin, who was Nichols’s manservant from 1924 until Gaskin's death in 1966. Gaskin was a popular character, who also appeared in the succeeding gardening books. In a late book, Down the Kitchen Sink, dedicated in memory of Gaskin, Nichols said Gaskin's first name was Reginald, and in a late book by Wodehouse, that author gives Jeeves the first name Reginald. One may draw an obvious conclusion since Nichols and Wodehouse were well acquainted with each other.
A later trilogy written between 1951 and 1956 documents Nichols's travails renovating Merry Hall (Meadowstream), a Georgian
Georgian architecture
Georgian architecture is the name given in most English-speaking countries to the set of architectural styles current between 1720 and 1840. It is eponymous for the first four British monarchs of the House of Hanover—George I of Great Britain, George II of Great Britain, George III of the United...
manor house in Agates Lane, Ashtead
Ashtead
Ashtead is a village situated within the Metropolitan Green Belt of Surrey, England, and is just outside of the suburbia of London. It is separated from Leatherhead by the M25, and from Epsom by Ashtead Common.- History :...
, Surrey
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
, where Nichols lived from 1946 to 1956. These books often feature his gifted but laconic gardener "Oldfield". Nichols's final trilogy is referred to as "The Sudbrook Trilogy" (1963–1968) and concerns his late 18th-century attached cottage at Ham, (near Richmond), Surrey
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
.
Nichols wrote on a wide range of topics, always looking for "the next big thing." As examples, he ghostwrote
Ghostwriter
A ghostwriter is a professional writer who is paid to write books, articles, stories, reports, or other texts that are officially credited to another person. Celebrities, executives, and political leaders often hire ghostwriters to draft or edit autobiographies, magazine articles, or other written...
Dame Nellie Melba’s 1925 "autobiography" Memories and Melodies (he was at the time her personal secretary - his 1933 book Evensong was believed based on aspects of her life). In 1966 he wrote A Case of Human Bondage about the marriage and divorce of writer William Somerset Maugham and his interior-decorator wife, Syrie
Gwendoline Maud Syrie Barnardo
Syrie Maugham was a leading British interior decorator of the 1920s and 1930s and best-known for popularizing rooms decorated entirely in shades of white.-Birth:...
, which was highly critical of Maugham. Father Figure, which appeared in 1972 and in which he described how he had tried to murder his alcoholic and abusive father, caused a great uproar and several people asked for his prosecution. His book about spiritualism was not well received, which disappointed him.
His main interest apart from the writing of his books was gardening, especially garden design and winter flowers. Among his huge acquaintance in all walks of life, were many famous gardeners including Constance Spry and Lord Aberconway, who was President of the RHS and owner of the Bodnant garden in North Wales.
Nichols made one appearance on film - in 1931 he appeared in Glamour, directed by Seymour Hicks
Seymour Hicks
Sir Arthur Seymour Hicks , better known as Seymour Hicks, was a British actor, music hall performer, playwright, screenwriter, theatre manager and producer. He married the actress Ellaline Terriss in 1893...
and Harry Hughes
Harry Hughes
Harry Roe Hughes , a member of the United States Democratic Party, was the 57th Governor of Maryland in the United States from 1979 to 1987.-Early life and family:...
, playing the small part of the Hon. Richard Wells. The film is now lost.
Personal life
He went to school at Marlborough CollegeMarlborough College
Marlborough College is a British co-educational independent school for day and boarding pupils, located in Marlborough, Wiltshire.Founded in 1843 for the education of the sons of Church of England clergy, the school now accepts both boys and girls of all beliefs. Currently there are just over 800...
, and went to Balliol College
Balliol College, Oxford
Balliol College , founded in 1263, is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England but founded by a family with strong Scottish connections....
, Oxford University, and was President of the Oxford Union
Oxford Union
The Oxford Union Society, commonly referred to simply as the Oxford Union, is a debating society in the city of Oxford, Britain, whose membership is drawn primarily but not exclusively from the University of Oxford...
and editor of Isis.
Nichols' life partner was Cyril Butcher. Nichols died in 1983. He is buried in Glatton
Glatton
Glatton – in Huntingdonshire , England – is a village near Connington south of Yaxley and Stilton....
, England.
Gardening, homes and restoration
- Down the Garden Path (1932) ISBN 978-0-88192-710-8
- A Thatched Roof (1933) ISBN 978-0-88192-728-3
- A Village in a Valley (1934) ISBN 978-0-88192-729-0
- How Does Your Garden Grow? (1935)
- Green Grows the City (1939) ISBN 978-0-88192-779-5
- Merry Hall (1951) ISBN 978-0-88192-804-4
- Laughter on the Stairs (1953) ISBN 978-0-88192-460-2
- Sunlight on the Lawn (1956) ISBN 978-0-88192-467-1
- Garden Open Today (1963) ISBN 978-0-88192-533-3
- Forty Favourite Flowers (1964)
- The Art of Flower Arrangement (1967)
- Garden Open Tomorrow (1968) ISBN 978-0-88192-552-4
Novels
- Prelude (19201920 in literatureThe year 1920 in literature involved some significant events and new books.-Events:*Agatha Christie publishes her first novel, The Mysterious Affair at Styles, introducing the long-running character detective, Hercule Poirot....
) (reprinted in 2007 by Kessinger Publishing, ISBN 0548752133) - Patchwork (19211921 in literatureThe year 1921 in literature involved some significant events and new books.-New books:*Edgar Rice Burroughs – Tarzan the Terrible*James Branch Cabell – Figures of Earth*Hall Caine – The Master of Man*Willa Cather – Alexander's Bridge...
) - Self (19221922 in literatureThe year 1922 in literature involved some significant events and new books.Under the current U.S. copyright law, all works published before January 1, 1923 with a proper copyright notice entered the public domain no later than 75 years from the date of the copyright...
) - Crazy Pavements (19271927 in literatureThe year 1927 in literature involved some significant events and new books.-Events:*Random House, book publishers, is founded in New York City by Bennett Cerf and Donald Klopfer.-New books:*James Boyd - Marching On...
) - Evensong (19321932 in literatureThe year 1932 in literature involved some significant events and new books.-Events:*E. V. Knox replaces Sir Owen Seaman as editor of Punch magazine.*Samuel Beckett's first novel, Dream of Fair to Middling Women, is rejected by several publishers....
) - Revue (19391939 in literatureThe year 1939 in literature involved some significant events and new books.-Events:*December 25 - A Christmas Carol is read before a radio audience for the first time....
)
Mysteries
- No Man's Street (1954)
- The Moonflower (1955) (aka The Moonflower Murder)
- Death to Slow Music (1956)
- The Rich Die Hard (1957)
- Murder by Request (1960)
Cats
- Beverley Nichols' Cats A.B.C. (1960)
- Beverley Nichols' Cats X.Y.Z. (1961)
Religion
- The Fool Hath Said (1936)
- A Pilgrim's Progress (1952)
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Plays
- The Stag - produced 1929, published 1933
- Avalanche - produced 1931, published 1933
- When the Crash Comes - produced & published 1933
- Evensong - produced 1932, published 1933
- Mesmer - produced 1935, published 1937
- Shadow of the Vine - published 1949, produced 1954
Autobiographies
- Twenty-Five (1926)
- All I Could Never Be (1949)
- The Sweet and Twenties (1958)
- Father Figure (1972)
- Down the Kitchen Sink (1974)
- The Unforgiving Minute (1978)
Political
- Cry Havoc! (1933)
- News of England (1938)
- Verdict on India (1944)
- Uncle Samsom (1950)
Children's Books
- The Tree that Sat Down (1945)
- The Stream that Stood Still (1948)
- The Mountain of Magic (1950)
- The Wickedest Witch in the World (1971)
In Collaboration
- Yours Sincerely (1947). Collaboration with Monica DickensMonica DickensMonica Enid Dickens, MBE was an English writer, the great-granddaughter of Charles Dickens.-Biography:...
.