Desmond MacCarthy
Encyclopedia
Sir Desmond MacCarthy (1877–1952) was a British literary critic and journalist.
, Devon
, and educated at Eton College
and Trinity College, Cambridge
. At Cambridge he got to know Lytton Strachey
, Bertrand Russell
and G. E. Moore.
", MacCarthy in fact had a wider circle of friends, including Logan Pearsall Smith
.
In 1903 he became a journalist
, with moderate success.
During World War I
he spent some time in Naval Intelligence.
In 1917 he joined the New Statesman
as drama critic, and in 1920 became its literary editor. He wrote a weekly column under the pen-name "The Affable Hawk". During this time he recruited Cyril Connolly
to the paper.
By 1928 he was losing interest in the New Statesman, and became the first editor of Life and Letters
. Other periodicals he was associated with were New Quarterly and Eye Witness. MacCarthy became a literary critic for the Sunday Times
, and several volumes of his collected criticism were published.
He was author of the short ghost story "Pargiton and Harby", reprinted in the Fourth Fontana Book of Great Ghost Stories.
, the daughter of Francis Warre Warre-Cornish
. She was a respected literary figure in her own right. Her sister Cecilia married William Wordsworth Fisher
. The MacCarthys' daughter Rachel married the literary historian Lord David Cecil
; their son is the actor Jonathan Cecil
.
He is buried at the Parish of the Ascension Burial Ground
in Cambridge.
Early life and education
MacCarthy was born in PlymouthPlymouth
Plymouth is a city and unitary authority area on the coast of Devon, England, about south-west of London. It is built between the mouths of the rivers Plym to the east and Tamar to the west, where they join Plymouth Sound...
, Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
, and educated at Eton College
Eton College
Eton College, often referred to simply as Eton, is a British independent school for boys aged 13 to 18. It was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI as "The King's College of Our Lady of Eton besides Wyndsor"....
and Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. Trinity has more members than any other college in Cambridge or Oxford, with around 700 undergraduates, 430 graduates, and over 170 Fellows...
. At Cambridge he got to know Lytton Strachey
Lytton Strachey
Giles Lytton Strachey was a British writer and critic. He is best known for establishing a new form of biography in which psychological insight and sympathy are combined with irreverence and wit...
, Bertrand Russell
Bertrand Russell
Bertrand Arthur William Russell, 3rd Earl Russell, OM, FRS was a British philosopher, logician, mathematician, historian, and social critic. At various points in his life he considered himself a liberal, a socialist, and a pacifist, but he also admitted that he had never been any of these things...
and G. E. Moore.
Career
Though often thought to be a member of the "Bloomsbury GroupBloomsbury Group
The Bloomsbury Group or Bloomsbury Set was a group of writers, intellectuals, philosophers and artists who held informal discussions in Bloomsbury throughout the 20th century. This English collective of friends and relatives lived, worked or studied near Bloomsbury in London during the first half...
", MacCarthy in fact had a wider circle of friends, including Logan Pearsall Smith
Logan Pearsall Smith
Logan Pearsall Smith was an American-born essayist and critic.Smith was born in Millville, New Jersey the son of the prominent Quakers Robert Pearsall Smith and Hannah Whitall Smith. His father's family had become wealthy from its glass factories...
.
In 1903 he became a journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
, with moderate success.
During World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
he spent some time in Naval Intelligence.
In 1917 he joined the New Statesman
New 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....
as drama critic, and in 1920 became its literary editor. He wrote a weekly column under the pen-name "The Affable Hawk". During this time he recruited Cyril Connolly
Cyril Connolly
Cyril Vernon Connolly was an English intellectual, literary critic and writer. He was the editor of the influential literary magazine Horizon and wrote Enemies of Promise , which combined literary criticism with an autobiographical exploration of why he failed to become the successful author of...
to the paper.
By 1928 he was losing interest in the New Statesman, and became the first editor of Life and Letters
Life and Letters
Life and Letters was an English literary journal published between June 1928 and April 1935.The magazine was edited from first publication by Desmond MacCarthy after he lost interest in the New Statesman. It had financial backing from Lord Esher...
. Other periodicals he was associated with were New Quarterly and Eye Witness. MacCarthy became a literary critic for the Sunday Times
The Sunday Times (UK)
The Sunday Times is a Sunday broadsheet newspaper, distributed in the United Kingdom. The Sunday Times is published by Times Newspapers Ltd, a subsidiary of News International, which is in turn owned by News Corporation. Times Newspapers also owns The Times, but the two papers were founded...
, and several volumes of his collected criticism were published.
He was author of the short ghost story "Pargiton and Harby", reprinted in the Fourth Fontana Book of Great Ghost Stories.
Personal life
In 1906 MacCarthy married MollieMary (Molly) MacCarthy
Mary MacCarthy was a British writer, known for her involvement in the "Bloomsbury Group".Mary MacCarthy was the daughter of the teacher and man-of-letters Francis Warre Warre-Cornish...
, the daughter of Francis Warre Warre-Cornish
Francis Warre Warre-Cornish
Francis Warre Warre-Cornish was a British scholar and writer. He was educated at Eton College and King's College, Cambridge. He was a master and subsequently Vice-Provost of Eton, from 1893 to 1916.-Works:...
. She was a respected literary figure in her own right. Her sister Cecilia married William Wordsworth Fisher
William Wordsworth Fisher
Admiral Sir William Wordsworth Fisher, GCB, GCVO was a Royal Navy officer who captained a battleship at the Battle of Jutland and became Commander-in-Chief of the Mediterranean Fleet...
. The MacCarthys' daughter Rachel married the literary historian Lord David Cecil
Lord David Cecil
Edward Christian David Gascoyne-Cecil, CH , was a British biographer, historian and academic. He held the style of 'Lord' by courtesy, as a younger son of a marquess.-Early life and studies:...
; their son is the actor Jonathan Cecil
Jonathan Cecil
Jonathan Hugh Gascoyne-Cecil , more commonly known as Jonathan Cecil, was an English theatre, film and television actor.-Early life:...
.
He is buried at the Parish of the Ascension Burial Ground
Ascension Parish Burial Ground, Cambridge
The Ascension Parish Burial Ground, formerly St Giles and St Peter's Parish, is a cemetery just off Huntingdon Road near the junction with Storey's Way in the northwest of Cambridge, England. It includes the graves of many Cambridge academics and non-conformists of the 19th and early 20th century...
in Cambridge.
Works
- The Court TheatreRoyal Court TheatreThe Royal Court Theatre is a non-commercial theatre on Sloane Square, in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. It is noted for its contributions to modern theatre...
(1907) - Portraits (1931)
- Drama (1940)
- Theatre(1955)
Further reading
- H. and M. Cecil, Clever Hearts: Desmond and Molly MacCarthy (1990)
- D. Cecil (ed.), Desmond MacCarthy the Man and his Writings (1984)