C. Walter Hodges
Encyclopedia
Cyril Walter Hodges, known as C. Walter Hodges (1909 – 26 November 2004), was an English illustrator
and author. Born in Beckenham
, Kent
and educated at Dulwich College
and Goldsmiths' College, he spent most of his career as a freelance illustrator.
For many years Hodges did line drawings for the Radio Times
. Among the writers for children with whom he collaborated as an illustrator were Ian Serraillier
, Rosemary Sutcliff
(The Eagle of the Ninth
), Rhoda Power
(Redcap Runs Away), and Elizabeth Goudge
(The Little White Horse
). His own non-fiction book for children, Shakespeare's Theatre, won the Kate Greenaway Medal
for illustration in 1964.
During a year spent in New York he was encouraged to write, as well as illustrate, Columbus Sails, a work of historical fiction
for children which proved popular on both sides of the Atlantic and led to several more examples. A lifelong love of theatre led to him becoming an authority on the construction of the Globe
and other theatre
s of Shakespeare
's time. He also designed costumes and scenery for the Everyman Theatre
, Liverpool
(1928–30) and for the Mermaid
and St George's Theatres in London in the 1950s.
In 1936, Hodges fell in love with and married Greta Becker, a ballet dancer. They were married for 63 years, until she died in 1999.
Hodges's Shakespearean expertise led Wayne State University theatre department chair Leonard Leone to invite him to Detroit in the late 1970s and early 1980s to work on Leone's proposed reconstruction of the Globe Theatre on the Detroit River. In the wake of the city's financial suffering due to the collapse of the auto industry, the project fell apart in 1982.
Illustrator
An Illustrator is a narrative artist who specializes in enhancing writing by providing a visual representation that corresponds to the content of the associated text...
and author. Born in Beckenham
Beckenham
Beckenham is a town in the London Borough of Bromley, England. It is located 8.4 miles south east of Charing Cross and 1.75 miles west of Bromley town...
, Kent
Kent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
and educated at Dulwich College
Dulwich College
Dulwich College is an independent school for boys in Dulwich, southeast London, England. The college was founded in 1619 by Edward Alleyn, a successful Elizabethan actor, with the original purpose of educating 12 poor scholars as the foundation of "God's Gift". It currently has about 1,600 boys,...
and Goldsmiths' College, he spent most of his career as a freelance illustrator.
For many years Hodges did line drawings for the Radio Times
Radio Times
Radio Times is a UK weekly television and radio programme listings magazine, owned by the BBC. It has been published since 1923 by BBC Magazines, which also provides an on-line listings service under the same title...
. Among the writers for children with whom he collaborated as an illustrator were Ian Serraillier
Ian Serraillier
Ian Serraillier was a British novelist and poet. He was also appreciated by children for being a storyteller retelling legends from Rome, Greece and England...
, Rosemary Sutcliff
Rosemary Sutcliff
Rosemary Sutcliff CBE was a British novelist, and writer for children, best known as a writer of historical fiction and children's literature. Although she was primarily a children's author, the quality and depth of her writing also appeals to adults; Sutcliff herself once commented that she wrote...
(The Eagle of the Ninth
The Eagle of the Ninth
The Eagle of the Ninth is a historical adventure novel for children written by Rosemary Sutcliff and published in 1954. The story is set in Roman Britain in the 2nd century AD, after the building of Hadrian's Wall....
), Rhoda Power
Rhoda Power
Rhoda Dolores le Poer Power , was a broadcaster and children's writer.-Life and career:...
(Redcap Runs Away), and Elizabeth Goudge
Elizabeth Goudge
Elizabeth de Beauchamp Goudge was an English author of novels, short stories and children's books as Elizabeth Goudge...
(The Little White Horse
The Little White Horse
The Little White Horse is a children's fantasy novel by Elizabeth Goudge which won the 1946 Carnegie Medal for children's literature. The original edition was illustrated by C. Walter Hodges...
). His own non-fiction book for children, Shakespeare's Theatre, won the Kate Greenaway Medal
Kate Greenaway Medal
The Kate Greenaway Medal was established in the United Kingdom in 1955 in honour of the children's illustrator, Kate Greenaway. The medal is given annually to an outstanding work of illustration in children's literature. It is awarded by Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals...
for illustration in 1964.
During a year spent in New York he was encouraged to write, as well as illustrate, Columbus Sails, a work of historical fiction
Historical fiction
Historical fiction tells a story that is set in the past. That setting is usually real and drawn from history, and often contains actual historical persons, but the principal characters tend to be fictional...
for children which proved popular on both sides of the Atlantic and led to several more examples. A lifelong love of theatre led to him becoming an authority on the construction of the Globe
Globe Theatre
The Globe Theatre was a theatre in London associated with William Shakespeare. It was built in 1599 by Shakespeare's playing company, the Lord Chamberlain's Men, and was destroyed by fire on 29 June 1613...
and other theatre
Theater (structure)
A theater or theatre is a structure where theatrical works or plays are performed or other performances such as musical concerts may be produced. While a theater is not required for performance , a theater serves to define the performance and audience spaces...
s of Shakespeare
William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare was an English poet and playwright, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's national poet and the "Bard of Avon"...
's time. He also designed costumes and scenery for the Everyman Theatre
Everyman Theatre
The Everyman Theatre stands at the north end of Hope Street, Liverpool, Merseyside, England. Established in 1964 in a former cinema, it encouraged local talent and played a part in the development of new artistes and writers. The theatre was rebuilt between 1975 and 1977, and was closed again for...
, Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
(1928–30) and for the Mermaid
Mermaid Theatre
The Mermaid Theatre was a theatre at Puddle Dock, in Blackfriars, in the City of London and the first built there since the time of Shakespeare...
and St George's Theatres in London in the 1950s.
In 1936, Hodges fell in love with and married Greta Becker, a ballet dancer. They were married for 63 years, until she died in 1999.
Hodges's Shakespearean expertise led Wayne State University theatre department chair Leonard Leone to invite him to Detroit in the late 1970s and early 1980s to work on Leone's proposed reconstruction of the Globe Theatre on the Detroit River. In the wake of the city's financial suffering due to the collapse of the auto industry, the project fell apart in 1982.
Select bibliography
- Columbus Sails, 1939
- Shakespeare and the Players, 1948
- The Globe Restored, 1953
- Shakespeare's Theatre, 1964
- Shakespeare's Second Globe: The Missing Monument, 1973
- The Battlement Garden - Britain from the Wars of the Roses to the ages of Shakespeare, Andre Deutsch, 1979, ISBN 0-233-96938-1
- The Namesake, 1964
- The Marsh King, 1967
- Enter the Whole Army, 1999