Frances Stonor Saunders
Encyclopedia
Frances Hélène Jeanne Stonor Saunders (born 14 April 1966) is a British
journalist and historian.
A few years after graduating (in 1987) with a first-class Honours degree in English from St Anne's College, Oxford, she embarked on a career as a television film-maker. Hidden Hands: A Different History of Modernism, made for Channel 4
in 1995, discussed the connection between various American art critics and Abstract Expressionist
painters with the CIA
. Who Paid the Piper?: CIA and the Cultural Cold War (1999) (in the USA: The Cultural Cold War: The CIA and the World of Arts and Letters), her first book, developed from her work on the documentary, concentrating on the history of the covertly CIA-funded Congress for Cultural Freedom. Stonor Saunders' other works reflect her academic background as a medievalist.
In 2005, after some years as the arts editor and associate editor of the New Statesman
, she resigned in protest over the sacking of Peter Wilby
, the then-editor. In 2004 and 2005 for Radio 3
, she presented Meetings of Minds, two three-part series on the meetings of intellectuals at significant points in history. She is also a regular contributor to Radio 3's Nightwaves
and other radio programmes.
Her second book, Hawkwood: Diabolical Englishman (The Devil's Broker in the US), recounts the life and career of John Hawkwood
, a condottiere of the 14th century. English-born, Hawkwood (1320–1394) made a notorious career as a participant in the confused and treacherous power politics of the Papacy, France, and Italy.
The Woman Who Shot Mussolini (2010) is a biography of Violet Gibson
, the Anglo-Irish aristocrat who shot Benito Mussolini
in 1926, wounding him slightly.
Frances Stonor Saunders is the daughter of Julia Camoys Stonor
and lives in London
.
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...
journalist and historian.
A few years after graduating (in 1987) with a first-class Honours degree in English from St Anne's College, Oxford, she embarked on a career as a television film-maker. Hidden Hands: A Different History of Modernism, made for Channel 4
Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
in 1995, discussed the connection between various American art critics and Abstract Expressionist
Abstract expressionism
Abstract expressionism was an American post–World War II art movement. It was the first specifically American movement to achieve worldwide influence and put New York City at the center of the western art world, a role formerly filled by Paris...
painters with the CIA
Central Intelligence Agency
The Central Intelligence Agency is a civilian intelligence agency of the United States government. It is an executive agency and reports directly to the Director of National Intelligence, responsible for providing national security intelligence assessment to senior United States policymakers...
. Who Paid the Piper?: CIA and the Cultural Cold War (1999) (in the USA: The Cultural Cold War: The CIA and the World of Arts and Letters), her first book, developed from her work on the documentary, concentrating on the history of the covertly CIA-funded Congress for Cultural Freedom. Stonor Saunders' other works reflect her academic background as a medievalist.
In 2005, after some years as the arts editor and associate editor of 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....
, she resigned in protest over the sacking of Peter Wilby
Peter Wilby (UK journalist)
Peter John Wilby is a British journalist.Wilby was educated at Kibworth Beauchamp grammar school in Leicestershire before graduating with a degree in History from the University of Sussex, where he helped found a short-lived university paper called Sussex Outlook. In 1968 he started writing for...
, the then-editor. In 2004 and 2005 for Radio 3
BBC Radio 3
BBC Radio 3 is a national radio station operated by the BBC within the United Kingdom. Its output centres on classical music and opera, but jazz, world music, drama, culture and the arts also feature. The station is the world’s most significant commissioner of new music, and its New Generation...
, she presented Meetings of Minds, two three-part series on the meetings of intellectuals at significant points in history. She is also a regular contributor to Radio 3's Nightwaves
Nightwaves
Night Waves is a radio programme broadcast on BBC Radio 3. The BBC describes it as "Radio 3's flagship arts and ideas programme".The Guardian said in May 2010 "...the king of radio arts programmes is undoubtedly Night Waves, a programme so clever that it regularly makes me stand still and listen,...
and other radio programmes.
Her second book, Hawkwood: Diabolical Englishman (The Devil's Broker in the US), recounts the life and career of John Hawkwood
John Hawkwood
Sir John Hawkwood was an English mercenary or condottiero who was active in 14th century Italy. The French chronicler Jean Froissart knew him as Jean Haccoude and Italians as Giovanni Acuto...
, a condottiere of the 14th century. English-born, Hawkwood (1320–1394) made a notorious career as a participant in the confused and treacherous power politics of the Papacy, France, and Italy.
The Woman Who Shot Mussolini (2010) is a biography of Violet Gibson
Violet Gibson
Hon. Violet Albina Gibson , the daughter of the 1st Lord Ashbourne, is best known for shooting Benito Mussolini in Rome in 1926....
, the Anglo-Irish aristocrat who shot Benito Mussolini
Benito Mussolini
Benito Amilcare Andrea Mussolini was an Italian politician who led the National Fascist Party and is credited with being one of the key figures in the creation of Fascism....
in 1926, wounding him slightly.
Frances Stonor Saunders is the daughter of Julia Camoys Stonor
Julia Camoys Stonor
Julia Maria Cristina Mildred Camoys Stonor is the eldest daughter of Sherman Stonor, 6th Baron Camoys by his wife Jeanne Stourton...
and lives in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
.