Christopher Sykes (author)
Encyclopedia
Christopher Hugh Sykes FRSL (17 November 1907 – 8 December 1986) was an English author. Born into a wealthy north-of-England
land-owning family
, he was the second son of the diplomat Sir Mark Sykes (1879–1919).
In the years 1933–1934 he traveled in Central Asia
with Robert Byron
, who later wrote The Road to Oxiana
about this long travel in an almost unexplored country. Nowadays Sykes is especially remembered for his biography of his friend, Evelyn Waugh
(an adult convert to Catholicism, whereas Sykes was Catholic all his life) and, to a lesser extent, for his classic history of the British Mandate of Palestine, Crossroads to Israel (1965). During the Second World War he served in the British Army
, and after 1945 he worked for many years in BBC Radio
, as well as writing for several British and American periodicals including The New Republic
, The Spectator
, and the short-lived English Review Magazine. He was invested as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature
.
.
Northern England
Northern England, also known as the North of England, the North or the North Country, is a cultural region of England. It is not an official government region, but rather an informal amalgamation of counties. The southern extent of the region is roughly the River Trent, while the North is bordered...
land-owning family
Sykes family of Sledmere
The Sykes family of Sledmere own Sledmere House in Yorkshire, England.-Family history:The Sykes family settled in Sykes Dyke near Carlisle in Cumberland during the Middle Ages. The earliest correspondence in the Sykes archives relates to Richard Sykes , from his factors in Danzig and local gentry...
, he was the second son of the diplomat Sir Mark Sykes (1879–1919).
In the years 1933–1934 he traveled in Central Asia
Central Asia
Central Asia is a core region of the Asian continent from the Caspian Sea in the west, China in the east, Afghanistan in the south, and Russia in the north...
with Robert Byron
Robert Byron
Robert Byron was a British travel writer, best known for his travelogue The Road to Oxiana. He was also a noted writer, art critic and historian....
, who later wrote The Road to Oxiana
The Road to Oxiana
The Road to Oxiana is a travelogue by Robert Byron, first published in 1937. It is considered by many modern travel writers to be the first example of great travel writing. The word "Oxiana" in the title refers to the region along Afghanistan's northern border.The book is an account of Byron's...
about this long travel in an almost unexplored country. Nowadays Sykes is especially remembered for his biography of his friend, Evelyn Waugh
Evelyn Waugh
Arthur Evelyn St. John Waugh , known as Evelyn Waugh, was an English writer of novels, travel books and biographies. He was also a prolific journalist and reviewer...
(an adult convert to Catholicism, whereas Sykes was Catholic all his life) and, to a lesser extent, for his classic history of the British Mandate of Palestine, Crossroads to Israel (1965). During the Second World War he served in the British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
, and after 1945 he worked for many years in BBC Radio
BBC Radio
BBC Radio is a service of the British Broadcasting Corporation which has operated in the United Kingdom under the terms of a Royal Charter since 1927. For a history of BBC radio prior to 1927 see British Broadcasting Company...
, as well as writing for several British and American periodicals including The New Republic
The New Republic
The magazine has also published two articles concerning income inequality, largely criticizing conservative economists for their attempts to deny the existence or negative effect increasing income inequality is having on the United States...
, The Spectator
The Spectator
The Spectator is a weekly British magazine first published on 6 July 1828. It is currently owned by David and Frederick Barclay, who also owns The Daily Telegraph. Its principal subject areas are politics and culture...
, and the short-lived English Review Magazine. He was invested as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature
Royal Society of Literature
The Royal Society of Literature is the "senior literary organisation in Britain". It was founded in 1820 by George IV, in order to "reward literary merit and excite literary talent". The Society's first president was Thomas Burgess, who later became the Bishop of Salisbury...
.
Marriage and family
He married Camilla Georgiana Russell, daughter of Sir Thomas Wentworth Russell and Evelyn Dorothea Temple Moore, on 25 October 1936. Their son Mark Richard Sykes (born 9 June 1937), by his second marriage, was father to six children including New York-based fashion writer and novelist Plum SykesPlum Sykes
Victoria "Plum" Sykes is an English-born fashion-writer, novelist and New York socialite. "Plum" was a childhood nickname .- Early years and antecedents :...
.