Elinor Glyn
Encyclopedia
Elinor Glyn born Elinor Sutherland, was a British
novelist and scriptwriter who pioneered mass-market women's erotic fiction. She popularized the concept It . Although her works are relatively tame by modern standards, she had tremendous influence on early 20th century popular culture, and perhaps on the careers of notable Hollywood stars such as Rudolph Valentino
, Gloria Swanson
, and Clara Bow
.
, Jersey
, Channel Islands
, the younger daughter of Douglas Sutherland (1838–1865), a civil engineer of Scottish descent related to the Lords Duffus
, by his wife Elinor Saunders (1841–1937), of an Anglo-French family which had settled in Canada. Following the death of her father when she was just two months old, her mother returned to the parental home in Guelph
, Ontario
with her two daughters Lucy Christiana
and baby Elinor. Here Elinor was schooled by her grandmother, Lucy Anne Saunders née Willcocks (an Anglo-Irish aristocrat and daughter of Sir Richard Willcocks) in the ways of upper-class society. This training not only gave her an entrée into aristocratic circles on her return to Europe, but it led her to be considered an authority on style and breeding when she worked in Hollywood in the 1920s.
Glyn's elder sister grew up to be Lucy, Lady Duff-Gordon
, famous as the fashion designer "Lucile". Glyn's mother apparently remarried in 1871 a Mr Kennedy, and the family returned to Jersey when Glyn was eight years old. Her subsequent education at her stepfather's house was by governesses.
At the age of twenty-eight, the green-eyed red-haired but dowryless Elinor married on 27 April 1892. Her husband was Clayton Louis Glyn (1857–1915), a wealthy but spendthrift landowner, descended from Sir Richard Carr Glyn
an 18th century Lord Mayor of London
(according to her grandson Anthony Glyn). The couple had two daughters, Margot and Juliet, but the marriage foundered on mutual incompatibility. Glyn began writing in 1900, starting with a book based on letters to her mother. Her marriage was troubled, and Glyn began having affairs with various British aristocrats. Her Three Weeks, about an exotic Balkan queen who seduces a young British aristocrat, was allegedly inspired by her affair with Lord Alistair Innes Ker, brother of the Duke of Roxburghe
, and scandalized Edwardian society. She had a long lasting affair between 1906 and 1916 with George Nathaniel Curzon, 1st Marquess Curzon of Kedleston. She was famously painted by society painter Philip de Laszlo at the age of 48.
As her husband fell into debt from 1908, Glyn wrote at least one novel a year to keep up her standard of living. He died in 1915 after several years of illness.
Elinor Glyn died 23 September 1943 in Chelsea
, London, survived by her two daughters. Her elder daughter Margot Elinor, Lady Davson OBE died 10 September 1966 in Rome; she married Sir Edward Davson, 1st Baronet
(14 September 1875-9 August 1937) in 1921 and had two sons: Geoffrey Leo Simon Davson, who inherited his father's baronetcy (created 1927) but changed his name to Anthony Glyn (13 March 1922 - 20 January 1998), and Christopher Davson.
for sexuality, or sex appeal. She wrote magazine articles for the Hearst press giving advice on how to keep your man and health and beauty tips. 'The Elinor Glyn System of Writing' 1922 gives insights into writing for Hollywood studios and magazine editors at this time.
From the 1927 novel, It: "To have 'It', the fortunate possessor must have that strange magnetism which attracts both sexes... In the animal world 'It' demonstrates in tigers and cats-both animals being fascinating and mysterious, and quite unbiddable." From the 1927 movie, It: "self-confidence and indifference as to whether you are pleasing or not". She was the celebrated author of early 20th century bestsellers as It, Three Weeks, Beyond the Rocks
, and other novel
s which were then considered quite racy.
On the strength of the popularity and notoriety of her books, Glyn moved to Hollywood to work in the movie industry in 1920. She is credited with the re-styling of Gloria Swanson
from giggly starlet to elegant star. Beyond the Rocks was made into a silent film released in 1922; the Sam Wood
-directed film stars Gloria Swanson and Rudolph Valentino
as a romantic pair. In 1927 she helped to make a star of actress Clara Bow
for whom she coined the sobriquet "the It girl
". In 1928, Bow also starred in Red Hair
based on Glyn's 1905 novel.
Apart from being a scriptwriter for the silent movie
industry, working for both MGM and Paramount Pictures
in Hollywood in the mid-1920s, she had a brief career as one of the earliest female directors.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
novelist and scriptwriter who pioneered mass-market women's erotic fiction. She popularized the concept It . Although her works are relatively tame by modern standards, she had tremendous influence on early 20th century popular culture, and perhaps on the careers of notable Hollywood stars such as Rudolph Valentino
Rudolph Valentino
Rudolph Valentino was an Italian actor, and early pop icon. A sex symbol of the 1920s, Valentino was known as the "Latin Lover". He starred in several well-known silent films including The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, The Sheik, Blood and Sand, The Eagle and Son of the Sheik...
, Gloria Swanson
Gloria Swanson
Gloria Swanson was an American actress, singer and producer. She was one of the most prominent stars during the silent film era as both an actress and a fashion icon, especially under the direction of Cecil B. DeMille, made dozens of silents and was nominated for the first Academy Award in the...
, and Clara Bow
Clara Bow
Clara Gordon Bow was an American actress who rose to stardom in the silent film era of the 1920s. It was her appearance as a spunky shopgirl in the film It that brought her global fame and the nickname "The It Girl." Bow came to personify the roaring twenties and is described as its leading sex...
.
Biography
Elinor Glyn was born in Saint HelierSaint Helier
Saint Helier is one of the twelve parishes of Jersey, the largest of the Channel Islands in the English Channel. St. Helier has a population of about 28,000, roughly 31.2% of the total population of Jersey, and is the capital of the Island . The urban area of the parish of St...
, Jersey
Jersey
Jersey, officially the Bailiwick of Jersey is a British Crown Dependency off the coast of Normandy, France. As well as the island of Jersey itself, the bailiwick includes two groups of small islands that are no longer permanently inhabited, the Minquiers and Écréhous, and the Pierres de Lecq and...
, Channel Islands
Channel Islands
The Channel Islands are an archipelago of British Crown Dependencies in the English Channel, off the French coast of Normandy. They include two separate bailiwicks: the Bailiwick of Guernsey and the Bailiwick of Jersey...
, the younger daughter of Douglas Sutherland (1838–1865), a civil engineer of Scottish descent related to the Lords Duffus
Lord Duffus
The title Lord Duffus was created by Charles II in the Peerage of Scotland on 8 December 1650 for Alexander Sutherland. He was a descendant of the 4th Earl of Sutherland, who fell in battle in 1333. The title is now extinct, although there may be male-line Sutherlands descended from earlier lairds...
, by his wife Elinor Saunders (1841–1937), of an Anglo-French family which had settled in Canada. Following the death of her father when she was just two months old, her mother returned to the parental home in Guelph
Guelph
Guelph is a city in Ontario, Canada.Guelph may also refer to:* Guelph , consisting of the City of Guelph, Ontario* Guelph , as the above* University of Guelph, in the same city...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
with her two daughters Lucy Christiana
Lucy, Lady Duff-Gordon
Lucy Christiana, Lady Duff Gordon was a leading fashion designer in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, best known as "Lucile", her professional name. The first British designer to achieve international renown, Lucile was a widely-acknowledged innovator in couture styles as well as in fashion...
and baby Elinor. Here Elinor was schooled by her grandmother, Lucy Anne Saunders née Willcocks (an Anglo-Irish aristocrat and daughter of Sir Richard Willcocks) in the ways of upper-class society. This training not only gave her an entrée into aristocratic circles on her return to Europe, but it led her to be considered an authority on style and breeding when she worked in Hollywood in the 1920s.
Glyn's elder sister grew up to be Lucy, Lady Duff-Gordon
Lucy, Lady Duff-Gordon
Lucy Christiana, Lady Duff Gordon was a leading fashion designer in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, best known as "Lucile", her professional name. The first British designer to achieve international renown, Lucile was a widely-acknowledged innovator in couture styles as well as in fashion...
, famous as the fashion designer "Lucile". Glyn's mother apparently remarried in 1871 a Mr Kennedy, and the family returned to Jersey when Glyn was eight years old. Her subsequent education at her stepfather's house was by governesses.
At the age of twenty-eight, the green-eyed red-haired but dowryless Elinor married on 27 April 1892. Her husband was Clayton Louis Glyn (1857–1915), a wealthy but spendthrift landowner, descended from Sir Richard Carr Glyn
Sir Richard Glyn, 1st Baronet, of Ewell
Sir Richard Glyn, 1st Baronet was a British banker and politician.Together with Joseph Vere and Thomas Hallifax he founded the bank of Vere, Glyn & Hallifax, which evolved into Williams & Glyn's Bank....
an 18th century Lord Mayor of London
Lord Mayor of London
The Right Honourable Lord Mayor of London is the legal title for the Mayor of the City of London Corporation. The Lord Mayor of London is to be distinguished from the Mayor of London; the former is an officer only of the City of London, while the Mayor of London is the Mayor of Greater London and...
(according to her grandson Anthony Glyn). The couple had two daughters, Margot and Juliet, but the marriage foundered on mutual incompatibility. Glyn began writing in 1900, starting with a book based on letters to her mother. Her marriage was troubled, and Glyn began having affairs with various British aristocrats. Her Three Weeks, about an exotic Balkan queen who seduces a young British aristocrat, was allegedly inspired by her affair with Lord Alistair Innes Ker, brother of the Duke of Roxburghe
Duke of Roxburghe
The Duke of Roxburghe is a title in the peerage of Scotland created in 1707 along with the titles Marquess of Bowmont and Cessford, Earl of Kelso and Viscount Broxmouth. John Ker, 5th Earl of Roxburghe became the first holder of these titles...
, and scandalized Edwardian society. She had a long lasting affair between 1906 and 1916 with George Nathaniel Curzon, 1st Marquess Curzon of Kedleston. She was famously painted by society painter Philip de Laszlo at the age of 48.
As her husband fell into debt from 1908, Glyn wrote at least one novel a year to keep up her standard of living. He died in 1915 after several years of illness.
Elinor Glyn died 23 September 1943 in Chelsea
Chelsea, London
Chelsea is an area of West London, England, bounded to the south by the River Thames, where its frontage runs from Chelsea Bridge along the Chelsea Embankment, Cheyne Walk, Lots Road and Chelsea Harbour. Its eastern boundary was once defined by the River Westbourne, which is now in a pipe above...
, London, survived by her two daughters. Her elder daughter Margot Elinor, Lady Davson OBE died 10 September 1966 in Rome; she married Sir Edward Davson, 1st Baronet
Davson Baronets
The Davson Baronetcy, of Berbice in British Guiana, is a title in the Baronetage of the United Kingdom.It was created on 21 January 1927 for Edward Rae Davson. He was Chairman of the Federation of Chambers of Commerce of the British Empire and a member of the Imperial Economic Committee and the...
(14 September 1875-9 August 1937) in 1921 and had two sons: Geoffrey Leo Simon Davson, who inherited his father's baronetcy (created 1927) but changed his name to Anthony Glyn (13 March 1922 - 20 January 1998), and Christopher Davson.
Family
- Margot Elinor Glyn, later Margot, Lady Davson OBE (June 1893 - 10 September 1966 in Rome); she married Sir Edward Rae Davson, 1st BaronetDavson BaronetsThe Davson Baronetcy, of Berbice in British Guiana, is a title in the Baronetage of the United Kingdom.It was created on 21 January 1927 for Edward Rae Davson. He was Chairman of the Federation of Chambers of Commerce of the British Empire and a member of the Imperial Economic Committee and the...
(14 September 1875-9 August 1937) in 1921 and had 2 sons- Anthony Glyn (13 March 1922 - 20 January 1998), author, previously Sir Geoffrey Davson, 2nd Baronet. He was born Geoffrey Leo Simon Davson, but changed his name to Anthony Geoffrey Ian Simon Glyn by Deed Poll in 1957. In 1937, aged 15, he inherited his father's baronetcy (created 1927) and was known as Sir Geoffrey Davson, 2nd Baronet. In 1955, he published an entertaining if tactful biography of his maternal grandmother. He married 1946 Susan Rhys Williams, daughter of Sir Rhys Rhys Williams BtRhys Rhys-WilliamsSir Rhys Rhys-Williams, 1st Baronet DSO QC DL , born Rhys Williams, was a British Liberal Party politician from Wales. He later left the Liberal Party for the Conservatives.-Family:...
(and thus probably his first cousin), and had issue one daughter Victoria (one other daughter Caroline deceased 1981). The baronetcy thus passed to his younger brother: - Sir Christopher Michael Edward Davson, 2nd Baronet (1927–2004)
- Sir George Trenchard Simon Davson, 4th Baronet (b. 1964)
- Anthony Glyn (13 March 1922 - 20 January 1998), author, previously Sir Geoffrey Davson, 2nd Baronet. He was born Geoffrey Leo Simon Davson, but changed his name to Anthony Geoffrey Ian Simon Glyn by Deed Poll in 1957. In 1937, aged 15, he inherited his father's baronetcy (created 1927) and was known as Sir Geoffrey Davson, 2nd Baronet. In 1955, he published an entertaining if tactful biography of his maternal grandmother. He married 1946 Susan Rhys Williams, daughter of Sir Rhys Rhys Williams Bt
- Juliet Evangeline Glyn, later Dame Juliet Rhys-WilliamsJuliet Rhys-WilliamsJuliet Evangeline, Lady Rhys-Williams, DBE, DStJ née Glyn , was a British writer, and a Liberal Party politician who later joined the Conservative Party....
DBE (1898–1964), a governor of the BBC 1952-1956. she married 24 February 1921 the much older Liberal politician Sir Rhys Rhys-Williams BtRhys Rhys-WilliamsSir Rhys Rhys-Williams, 1st Baronet DSO QC DL , born Rhys Williams, was a British Liberal Party politician from Wales. He later left the Liberal Party for the Conservatives.-Family:...
(20 October 1865 – 29 January 1955, died aged 89), MP for BanburyBanbury (UK Parliament constituency)Banbury is a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It is a strongly Conservative seat.The constituency was created January 26, 1554 through the efforts of Henry Stafford and Thomas Denton...
1918-1922, and had issue, two sons and two daughters. Both husband and wife abandoned the Liberal Party for the Conservative Party.- Sir Brandon Rhys-Williams, 2nd BaronetBrandon Rhys-WilliamsSir Brandon Meredith Rhys-Williams, 2nd Baronet was a British Conservative politician.Rhys-Williams was elected a Member of Parliament in the Kensington South by-election, 1968, representing that seat until 1974, then for Kensington from 1974 until his death in 1988 aged 60...
(14 November 1927 – 18 May 1988), MP for Kensington SouthKensington South (UK Parliament constituency)Kensington South was a parliamentary constituency centred on the Kensington district of west London. It returned one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom....
1968-1974, then for KensingtonKensington (UK Parliament constituency)Kensington is a parliamentary constituency in the Parliament of the United Kingdom in west London, comprising the northern and central parts of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, around Kensington...
1974-1988, also MEP 1973-1984. By his wife Caroline Susan Foster, he had issue including:- Sir (Arthur) Gareth Ludovic Emrys Rhys-Williams, 3rd Baronet (born 1961)
- a second son
- Susan Rhys-Williams, who married her cousin Anthony Glyn (above) and became Lady Glyn.
- Elspeth Rhys-Williams, later Chowdhary-Best.
- Sir Brandon Rhys-Williams, 2nd Baronet
Career
She pioneered mass-market women's erotic fiction, though her writing would not be considered scandalous by modern standards. She coined the use of It, which is repeatedly yet erroneously described as a euphemismEuphemism
A euphemism is the substitution of a mild, inoffensive, relatively uncontroversial phrase for another more frank expression that might offend or otherwise suggest something unpleasant to the audience...
for sexuality, or sex appeal. She wrote magazine articles for the Hearst press giving advice on how to keep your man and health and beauty tips. 'The Elinor Glyn System of Writing' 1922 gives insights into writing for Hollywood studios and magazine editors at this time.
From the 1927 novel, It: "To have 'It', the fortunate possessor must have that strange magnetism which attracts both sexes... In the animal world 'It' demonstrates in tigers and cats-both animals being fascinating and mysterious, and quite unbiddable." From the 1927 movie, It: "self-confidence and indifference as to whether you are pleasing or not". She was the celebrated author of early 20th century bestsellers as It, Three Weeks, Beyond the Rocks
Beyond the Rocks
Beyond the Rocks is a 1906 novel by Elinor Glyn. The novel was later adapted into a 1922 silent film in which Gloria Swanson and Rudolph Valentino starred together for the only time. The film was directed by Sam Wood and distributed by Paramount Pictures.-Plot summary:The book is a melodrama...
, and other novel
Novel
A novel is a book of long narrative in literary prose. The genre has historical roots both in the fields of the medieval and early modern romance and in the tradition of the novella. The latter supplied the present generic term in the late 18th century....
s which were then considered quite racy.
On the strength of the popularity and notoriety of her books, Glyn moved to Hollywood to work in the movie industry in 1920. She is credited with the re-styling of Gloria Swanson
Gloria Swanson
Gloria Swanson was an American actress, singer and producer. She was one of the most prominent stars during the silent film era as both an actress and a fashion icon, especially under the direction of Cecil B. DeMille, made dozens of silents and was nominated for the first Academy Award in the...
from giggly starlet to elegant star. Beyond the Rocks was made into a silent film released in 1922; the Sam Wood
Sam Wood
Samuel Grosvenor "Sam" Wood was an American film director, and producer, who was best known for directing such Hollywood hits as A Night at the Opera, A Day at the Races, Goodbye, Mr. Chips, and The Pride of the Yankees...
-directed film stars Gloria Swanson and Rudolph Valentino
Rudolph Valentino
Rudolph Valentino was an Italian actor, and early pop icon. A sex symbol of the 1920s, Valentino was known as the "Latin Lover". He starred in several well-known silent films including The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, The Sheik, Blood and Sand, The Eagle and Son of the Sheik...
as a romantic pair. In 1927 she helped to make a star of actress Clara Bow
Clara Bow
Clara Gordon Bow was an American actress who rose to stardom in the silent film era of the 1920s. It was her appearance as a spunky shopgirl in the film It that brought her global fame and the nickname "The It Girl." Bow came to personify the roaring twenties and is described as its leading sex...
for whom she coined the sobriquet "the It girl
It girl
"It girl" is a term for a young woman who possess the quality "It", absolute attraction.The early usage of the concept "it" in this meaning may be seen in a story by Rudyard Kipling: "It isn't beauty, so to speak, nor good talk necessarily. It's just 'It'."...
". In 1928, Bow also starred in Red Hair
Red Hair (1928 film)
Red Hair is a 1928 silent film starring Clara Bow and Lane Chandler, directed by Clarence G. Badger, based on a novel by Elinor Glyn, and released by Paramount Pictures....
based on Glyn's 1905 novel.
Apart from being a scriptwriter for the silent movie
Silent Movie
Silent Movie is a 1976 satirical comedy film co-written, directed by, and starring Mel Brooks, and released by 20th Century Fox on June 17, 1976...
industry, working for both MGM and Paramount Pictures
Paramount Pictures
Paramount Pictures Corporation is an American film production and distribution company, located at 5555 Melrose Avenue in Hollywood. Founded in 1912 and currently owned by media conglomerate Viacom, it is America's oldest existing film studio; it is also the last major film studio still...
in Hollywood in the mid-1920s, she had a brief career as one of the earliest female directors.
External links
- A 2004 essay by Louise Harrington (Cardiff UniversityCardiff UniversityCardiff University is a leading research university located in the Cathays Park area of Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom. It received its Royal charter in 1883 and is a member of the Russell Group of Universities. The university is consistently recognised as providing high quality research-based...
), from The Literary EncyclopediaThe Literary EncyclopediaThe Literary Encyclopedia is an online reference work first published in October 2000 which, as of May 2008, offers freely available content together with full content and services for subscribing members. Articles are written by "nearly 2000 named scholars, most of whom are current university... - The Elinor Glyn Papers from The University of North Carolina at Greensboro.
- "Historic People: Montacute's Tigress: Elinor Glyn BBC, 11 February 2009. Retrieved 15 March 2009. (Photo by Elspeth Chowdhary-Best).
- Papers of Elinor Glyn Reading University Library. Retrieved 15 March 2009.
- "Love & Sin on a Tiger Skin" Time magazine, 11 July 1955.
- Anthony Glyn. Elinor Glyn: A Life Doubleday & Company, 1955 (internet archive)
Portraits
- Elinor Glyn painted in 1912, by commission of Lord Curzon, former Viceroy of India. Retrieved 15 March 2009.