Geoffrey Household
Encyclopedia
Geoffrey Edward West Household (30 November 1900 — 4 October 1988) was a prolific British novelist who specialized in thrillers. He is best known for his novel Rogue Male
(1939
).
; his father Horace W. Household, was a lawyer
. Geoffrey was educated at Clifton College
, Bristol (1914-1919) and at Magdalen College, Oxford
, from which he received a B.A. in English literature in 1922. He became an assistant confidential secretary for Bank of Romania
, in Bucharest
(1922-1926). In 1926, he went to Spain
, where he worked selling bananas as a marketing manager for the United Fruit Company (Elders and Fyffes
). In 1929, Household moved to the United States
where he wrote for children's encyclopedias and composed children's radio plays for the Columbia Broadcasting System. From 1933 to 1939 he was a traveling salesman for John Kidd, a manufacturer of printing ink, in Europe
, the Middle East
, and South America
. He served in British Intelligence
during World War II
in Romania
, Greece
and the Middle East.
He married twice, secondly in 1942 to Ilona Zsoldos-Gutman, by whom he had a son and two daughters.
After the War, he lived the life of a 'country gentleman' and wrote. He died in Banbury
, Oxfordshire
.
, "The Salvation
of Pisco Gabar" was published in The Atlantic Monthly
in 1936. His first novel The Terror of Villadonga was published that same year. His first short story collection, The Salvation of Pisco Gabar and Other Stories, came out in 1938. In all, he wrote twenty-eight novels (including four for young adults and a novella
), seven short story collections and an autobiography, Against the Wind, published in 1958.
Many of his stories have scenes set in caves, and there is a science-fiction or supernatural
element in some, although this is handled with restraint. The typical Household hero was a strong, capable Englishman
with a high sense of honour which bound him to a certain course of action. He described himself, as a writer, as "sort of a bastard by Stevenson
out of Conrad
... Style is enormously important to me and I do try to develop my hero as a human being in trouble."
Indiana University holds a collection of Household's manuscripts and correspondence.
Rogue Male (novel)
Rogue Male by Geoffrey Household is a classic thriller novel of the 1930s.-Storyline:The protagonist, an unnamed British sportsman, sets out to see whether he can stalk and prepare to shoot a European dictator...
(1939
1939 in literature
The year 1939 in literature involved some significant events and new books.-Events:*December 25 - A Christmas Carol is read before a radio audience for the first time....
).
Personal life
He was born in BristolBristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
; his father Horace W. Household, was a lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
. Geoffrey was educated at Clifton College
Clifton College
Clifton College is a co-educational independent school in Clifton, Bristol, England, founded in 1862. In its early years it was notable for emphasising science in the curriculum, and for being less concerned with social elitism, e.g. by admitting day-boys on equal terms and providing a dedicated...
, Bristol (1914-1919) and at Magdalen College, Oxford
Magdalen College, Oxford
Magdalen College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. As of 2006 the college had an estimated financial endowment of £153 million. Magdalen is currently top of the Norrington Table after over half of its 2010 finalists received first-class degrees, a record...
, from which he received a B.A. in English literature in 1922. He became an assistant confidential secretary for Bank of Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
, in Bucharest
Bucharest
Bucharest is the capital municipality, cultural, industrial, and financial centre of Romania. It is the largest city in Romania, located in the southeast of the country, at , and lies on the banks of the Dâmbovița River....
(1922-1926). In 1926, he went to Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, where he worked selling bananas as a marketing manager for the United Fruit Company (Elders and Fyffes
Fyffes
-History:In the 1870s Thomas Fyffe, a London food wholesaler, went into partnership with a fruit dealer named Hudson who had connections in the Canary Islands. In 1878 they shipped their first cargo of bananas to England. Within five years the business had become so successful that they purchased...
). In 1929, Household moved to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
where he wrote for children's encyclopedias and composed children's radio plays for the Columbia Broadcasting System. From 1933 to 1939 he was a traveling salesman for John Kidd, a manufacturer of printing ink, in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
, and South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
. He served in British Intelligence
Secret Intelligence Service
The Secret Intelligence Service is responsible for supplying the British Government with foreign intelligence. Alongside the internal Security Service , the Government Communications Headquarters and the Defence Intelligence , it operates under the formal direction of the Joint Intelligence...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
in Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
, Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
and the Middle East.
He married twice, secondly in 1942 to Ilona Zsoldos-Gutman, by whom he had a son and two daughters.
After the War, he lived the life of a 'country gentleman' and wrote. He died in Banbury
Banbury
Banbury is a market town and civil parish on the River Cherwell in the Cherwell District of Oxfordshire. It is northwest of London, southeast of Birmingham, south of Coventry and north northwest of the county town of Oxford...
, Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire is a county in the South East region of England, bordering on Warwickshire and Northamptonshire , Buckinghamshire , Berkshire , Wiltshire and Gloucestershire ....
.
Writings
He began to write in the 1920s. His first short storyShort story
A short story is a work of fiction that is usually written in prose, often in narrative format. This format tends to be more pointed than longer works of fiction, such as novellas and novels. Short story definitions based on length differ somewhat, even among professional writers, in part because...
, "The Salvation
Salvation
Within religion salvation is the phenomenon of being saved from the undesirable condition of bondage or suffering experienced by the psyche or soul that has arisen as a result of unskillful or immoral actions generically referred to as sins. Salvation may also be called "deliverance" or...
of Pisco Gabar" was published in The Atlantic Monthly
The Atlantic Monthly
The Atlantic is an American magazine founded in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1857. It was created as a literary and cultural commentary magazine. It quickly achieved a national reputation, which it held for more than a century. It was important for recognizing and publishing new writers and poets,...
in 1936. His first novel The Terror of Villadonga was published that same year. His first short story collection, The Salvation of Pisco Gabar and Other Stories, came out in 1938. In all, he wrote twenty-eight novels (including four for young adults and a novella
Novella
A novella is a written, fictional, prose narrative usually longer than a novelette but shorter than a novel. The Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America Nebula Awards for science fiction define the novella as having a word count between 17,500 and 40,000...
), seven short story collections and an autobiography, Against the Wind, published in 1958.
Many of his stories have scenes set in caves, and there is a science-fiction or supernatural
Supernatural
The supernatural or is that which is not subject to the laws of nature, or more figuratively, that which is said to exist above and beyond nature...
element in some, although this is handled with restraint. The typical Household hero was a strong, capable Englishman
Englishman
Englishman may refer to:*English people*Grey Partridge*Jason Englishman, Canadian rock music singer and guitarist*Jenny-Bea Englishman, real name of the Canadien singer Esthero*Erald Briscoe, reggae musician who records under the name Englishman...
with a high sense of honour which bound him to a certain course of action. He described himself, as a writer, as "sort of a bastard by Stevenson
Robert Louis Stevenson
Robert Louis Balfour Stevenson was a Scottish novelist, poet, essayist and travel writer. His best-known books include Treasure Island, Kidnapped, and Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde....
out of Conrad
Joseph Conrad
Joseph Conrad was a Polish-born English novelist.Conrad is regarded as one of the great novelists in English, although he did not speak the language fluently until he was in his twenties...
... Style is enormously important to me and I do try to develop my hero as a human being in trouble."
Indiana University holds a collection of Household's manuscripts and correspondence.
Novels
- The Terror of Villadonga (1936) aka The Spanish Cave (novel for young adults)
- The Third Hour (1937)
- Rogue MaleRogue Male (novel)Rogue Male by Geoffrey Household is a classic thriller novel of the 1930s.-Storyline:The protagonist, an unnamed British sportsman, sets out to see whether he can stalk and prepare to shoot a European dictator...
(1939) (filmed as Man HuntMan Hunt (1941 film)Man Hunt is a 1941 American thriller film directed by Fritz Lang and starring Walter Pidgeon and Joan Bennett. It is based on the 1939 novel Rogue Male by Geoffrey Household and is set just prior to the Second World War. A Jewish liberal, Lang had fled Germany into exile in the mid 1930s - this was...
,1941, and as the TV movie Rogue MaleRogue Male (1976 film)Rogue Male is a 1976 British television film starring Peter O'Toole, based on Geoffrey Household's novel Rogue Male. Made by the BBC, it was adapted by Frederic Raphael and directed by Clive Donner, and also stars Alastair Sim, John Standing and Harold Pinter...
, 1976) - Arabesque (1948)
- The High Place (1950)
- A Rough Shoot (1951) aka Shoot First
- A Time to Kill (1951)
- The Exploits of Xenophon (1955) aka Xenophon's Adventure (novel for young adults)
- Fellow Passenger (1955) aka Hang the Moon High
- Watcher in the Shadows (1960) (filmed for TV as Deadly HarvestDeadly HarvestDeadly Harvest is a made for TV movie produced by CBS. It was shown in September 1972 and in July 1973. This movie is not to be confused with a movie from 1977, also entitled "Deadly Harvest", starring Clint Walker and Kim Cantrell.-Plot:...
, 1972) - Thing to Love (1963)
- Olura (1965)
- The Courtesy of Death (1967)
- Prisoner of the Indies (1967) (novel for young adults)
- Dance of the Dwarfs (1968) (filmed as Dance of the DwarfsDance of the Dwarfs (film)Dance of the Dwarfs is a 1983 adventure film directed by Gus Trikonis, loosely based on the book by Geoffrey Household by the same name. It stars Peter Fonda, Deborah Raffin, and John Amos. Despite a relatively well-known cast, the film has stayed in obscurity, it has little to no cult following,...
, 1983) - Doom's Caravan (1971)
- The Three SentinelsThe Three SentinelsThe Three Sentinels is a 1972 novel by Geoffrey Household.The "Three Sentinels" of the title are three deep, surging oil wells perched on a barren ridge of the Andes. The story involves two honorable and strong-willed men who must confront themselves, the sociology of native communities and the...
(1972) - The Lives and Times of Bernardo Brown (1973)
- Red Anger (1975)
- The Cats to Come (1975) (novella)
- Escape into Daylight (1976) (novel for young adults)
- Hostage London: The Diary of Julian Despard (1977)
- The Last Two Weeks of Georges Rivac (1978)
- The Sending (1980)
- Summon the Bright Water (1981)
- Rogue Justice (1982) (a sequel to Rogue Male)
- Arrows of Desire (1985)
- Face to the Sun (1988)
Short Story Collections
- The Salvation of Pisco Gabar and Other Stories (1938)
- Tales of Adventurers (1952)
- The Brides of Solomon and Other Stories (1958)
- Sabres on the Sand (1966)
- The Europe That Was (1979)
- Capricorn and Cancer (1981)
- The Days of Your Fathers (1987)
Sources
- The Lives and Times of Geoffey Household by Michael Barber, in Books and Bookmen (January 1974)
- St James Guide to Crime & Mystery Writers, ed. by Jay P. Pederson (1996)
- World Authors 1900-1950, vol. 2, ed. by Martin Seymour-Smith and Andrew C. Kimmens (1996)