David Sweetman
Encyclopedia
David Sweetman was a British writer, critic, teacher and broadcaster.
, an artist and performer. After graduation, he went to Africa to teach English. He took a diploma at Makerere College in Uganda and wrote a series of textbooks on teaching English for the British Council in Tunisia, as well as a series of adventure books (Skyjack over Africa and other titles) and biographies (Queen Nzinga: The Woman Who Saved Her People, among other titles in his series called Makers of African History) published by Longmans for younger African readers to encourage their language skills. Toward the end of the decade, he taught English and art at a school in Dar-es-Salaam.
and Quarto
. In 1981, Faber published a collection, Looking into the Deep End, which became a Poetry Book Society Choice.
His important survey Women Leaders In African History was published in 1984. In 1986, Zeffirelli, a biography of Italian film director Franco Zeffirelli
was published. He then turned to writing artist biographies. His 1990 Vincent van Gogh
biography, The Love of Many Things became an award winning book. This was quickly followed by biographies of Paul Gauguin
(1995) and Toulouse-Lautrec (1999). He had a novel, A Tribal Fever, published in 1996.
A generous man with an acerbic wit, his London home was often filled with African refugees. He also wrote a series of cookbooks and created restaurants with his longtime companion, Thai chef Vatcharin Bhumitchitr.
, became presenter of “Poetry Workshop,” one of BBC Radio London’s first literary programmes. Sweetman co-produced the weekly programme with Denis Boyles
, an American poet and journalist, for Wanda’s Factory
, a London “underground” literary cooperative. He interviewed a number of important literary figures for the programme, including Stephen Spender
and Lawrence Durrell
.
He subsequently became a television documentary director and producer, collaborating with Roderick Gradidge
for a series on architecture, with Stephen Bayley
for a series on design, and with Anton Dolin
and Wayne Sleep
for a series on the ballet. Sweetman's documentary reports were also broadcast on Omnibus.
Sweetman was diagnosed in early 2000 with Multiple System Atrophy
and died in London two years later.
Early life
Born David Robert Sweetman in 1943, he left Dilston in 1960 to study Fine Art at King’s College, Newcastle (University of Durham), as a scholarship student. At King's he formed what would become a lifelong friendship with Bryan FerryBryan Ferry
Bryan Ferry, CBE is an English singer, musician, and songwriter. Ferry came to public prominence in the early 1970s as lead vocalist and principal songwriter with the band Roxy Music, who enjoyed a highly successful career with three number one albums and ten singles entering the top ten charts in...
, an artist and performer. After graduation, he went to Africa to teach English. He took a diploma at Makerere College in Uganda and wrote a series of textbooks on teaching English for the British Council in Tunisia, as well as a series of adventure books (Skyjack over Africa and other titles) and biographies (Queen Nzinga: The Woman Who Saved Her People, among other titles in his series called Makers of African History) published by Longmans for younger African readers to encourage their language skills. Toward the end of the decade, he taught English and art at a school in Dar-es-Salaam.
Writer and poet
Sweetman was a frequent and prolific book reviewer and a poet of some distinction. His poems were published in a number of periodicals including The Listener, the Times Literary Supplement, the New StatesmanNew Statesman
New Statesman is a British centre-left political and cultural magazine published weekly in London. Founded in 1913, and connected with leading members of the Fabian Society, the magazine reached a circulation peak in the late 1960s....
and Quarto
Quarto
Quarto could refer to:* Quarto, a size or format of a book in which four leaves of a book are created from a standard size sheet of paper* For specific information about quarto texts of William Shakespeare's works, see:...
. In 1981, Faber published a collection, Looking into the Deep End, which became a Poetry Book Society Choice.
His important survey Women Leaders In African History was published in 1984. In 1986, Zeffirelli, a biography of Italian film director Franco Zeffirelli
Franco Zeffirelli
Franco Zeffirelli KBE is an Italian director and producer of films and television. He is also a director and designer of operas and a former senator for the Italian center-right Forza Italia party....
was published. He then turned to writing artist biographies. His 1990 Vincent van Gogh
Vincent van Gogh
Vincent Willem van Gogh , and used Brabant dialect in his writing; it is therefore likely that he himself pronounced his name with a Brabant accent: , with a voiced V and palatalized G and gh. In France, where much of his work was produced, it is...
biography, The Love of Many Things became an award winning book. This was quickly followed by biographies of Paul Gauguin
Paul Gauguin
Eugène Henri Paul Gauguin was a leading French Post-Impressionist artist. He was an important figure in the Symbolist movement as a painter, sculptor, print-maker, ceramist, and writer...
(1995) and Toulouse-Lautrec (1999). He had a novel, A Tribal Fever, published in 1996.
A generous man with an acerbic wit, his London home was often filled with African refugees. He also wrote a series of cookbooks and created restaurants with his longtime companion, Thai chef Vatcharin Bhumitchitr.
Broadcaster
In 1971, Sweetman, who had been associated briefly with the BBC World ServiceBBC World Service
The BBC World Service is the world's largest international broadcaster, broadcasting in 27 languages to many parts of the world via analogue and digital shortwave, internet streaming and podcasting, satellite, FM and MW relays...
, became presenter of “Poetry Workshop,” one of BBC Radio London’s first literary programmes. Sweetman co-produced the weekly programme with Denis Boyles
Denis Boyles
Denis Boyles is a writer, editor, former university lecturer and the author/editor of several books of poetry, travel/history, criticism, practical advice and essays, including Design Poetics , The Modern Man's Guide to Life , African Lives , Man Eaters Motel , A Man's Life: The Complete...
, an American poet and journalist, for Wanda’s Factory
Wanda’s Factory
Wanda's Factory was a cooperative of London poets and literary magazine editors active in the early 1970s. The cooperative sponsored readings and musical performances at venues throughout London, including at the Institute of Contemporary Arts and at London's Canaletto Gallery, featuring writers...
, a London “underground” literary cooperative. He interviewed a number of important literary figures for the programme, including Stephen Spender
Stephen Spender
Sir Stephen Harold Spender CBE was an English poet, novelist and essayist who concentrated on themes of social injustice and the class struggle in his work...
and Lawrence Durrell
Lawrence Durrell
Lawrence George Durrell was an expatriate British novelist, poet, dramatist, and travel writer, though he resisted affiliation with Britain and preferred to be considered cosmopolitan...
.
He subsequently became a television documentary director and producer, collaborating with Roderick Gradidge
Roderick Gradidge
Roderick Gradidge AA Dipl. ARIBA was a prominent British architect and writer on architecture, former Master of the Art Workers Guild and campaigner for a traditional architecture.- Career :...
for a series on architecture, with Stephen Bayley
Stephen Bayley
Stephen Paul Bayley is a British design critic, cultural critic and author.-Childhood and Education:Bayley spent his childhood years in Liverpool, attending Booker Avenue County Primary School and Quarry Bank High school . The latter was also attended at an earlier date by the late Beatle John...
for a series on design, and with Anton Dolin
Anton Dolin
Sir Anton Dolin was an English ballet dancer and choreographer.Dolin was born in Slinfold in Sussex as Sydney Francis Patrick Chippendall Healey-Kay but was generally known as Patrick Kay. He joined Sergei Diaghilev's Ballets Russes in 1921, was a principal there from 1924, and was a principal...
and Wayne Sleep
Wayne Sleep
Wayne Philip Colin Sleep OBE is a British dancer, director, choreographer and panelist. He was a Principal Dancer with the Royal Ballet and has appeared as a Guest Artist with several other ballet companies.-Early life:...
for a series on the ballet. Sweetman's documentary reports were also broadcast on Omnibus.
Sweetman was diagnosed in early 2000 with Multiple System Atrophy
Multiple system atrophy
Multiple system atrophy is a degenerative neurological disorder. MSA is associated with the degeneration of nerve cells in specific areas of the brain. This cell degeneration causes problems with movement, balance and other autonomic functions of the body such as bladder control or blood pressure...
and died in London two years later.
External links
- Madly Gifted. Article by David Sweetman on the University of Heidelberg's Hans PrinzhornHans PrinzhornHans Prinzhorn was a German psychiatrist and art historian.Born in Hemer, Westphalia, he studied art history and philosophy at the University of Vienna, receiving his doctorate in 1908. He then went to England to receive voice training, as he planned to become a professional singer...
collection - Obituary in The Independent, 11 April 2002, by Andrew Best
- Obituary in The Guardian, 12 April 2002, by David McGillivray