James Kenward
Encyclopedia
James Kenward English
author and illustrator
, best known for his accounts of suburban and prep school
life.
James Macara Kenward was born in 1908 in South London
, the son of the Lloyd's
insurance broker who invented rain insurance: The Jupiter Pluvius policy. James Kenward received his prep school education at Ripple Vale School near Deal
in Kent
until entering Brighton College
in 1919. On leaving Brighton he spent three years at Lloyd's in his father’s footsteps before taking up writing full-time, at the age of twenty. His first novel for adults, John and David, a story of feuding brothers, was published by Peter Davies in 1931. This was followed by the fantasy Summervale in 1935, published by Constable and Co. and recounting the metamorphosis of an unassuming suburban insurance broker into a dog. The Manewood Line, a fictional account of the rise, decline and revival of Selsey
's branch line and Kenward’s last novel for adults (described as "A Romance" on the fly-leaves of later books), was published by Stanley Paul in 1937. Kenward’s next book, The Roof-Tree, can be classed loosely as a work on architecture and was first published in 1938: it was reissued in The Oxford Bookshelf series in 1941. This was the first book that Kenward illustrated himself, apart from a few maps drawn for The Manewood Line.
At the age of 40, James Kenward trained at the Ruskin School of Drawing and Fine Art in order to illustrate his own books. He was a skilled landscape draughtsman, making particularly fine drawings of trees, and many watercolour paintings.
James Kenward held strong pacifist views, however he served as a gunner in the Second World War
during which time he made many pen and wash drawings of army life. During the push of the Allied forces into Germany in 1944-45, he gave courses in Fine Art
to fellow soldiers. Whilst representing the family during the terminal illness of one of his sisters in Lausanne
in witzerland]), and whilst also attending local art classes, he met his future wife in 1933. They produced four children: In 1941, 1943, and twins in 1954.
James Kenward’s first publication after the War was Prince Foamytail (published by Comyns in 1946), a book for children developing material drawn from Summervale, and again self-illustrated. He followed this with the autobiographical The Suburban Child (1955), illustrated by Edward Ardizzone
and published by Cambridge University Press
. Its sequel, Prep School, was published by Michael Joseph in 1958 and illustrated by Christopher Brooker. Kenward’s last two books, for children, were The Market Train Mystery and The Story of the Poor Author, both published by Nisbet in 1959 - and illustrated by Kenward himself. James Kenward died in 1994 (of cancer of the liver), leaving behind a substantial quantity of unpublished written material, plus many drawings and paintings.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
author and illustrator
Illustrator
An Illustrator is a narrative artist who specializes in enhancing writing by providing a visual representation that corresponds to the content of the associated text...
, best known for his accounts of suburban and prep school
Preparatory school (UK)
In English language usage in the former British Empire, the present-day Commonwealth, a preparatory school is an independent school preparing children up to the age of eleven or thirteen for entry into fee-paying, secondary independent schools, some of which are known as public schools...
life.
James Macara Kenward was born in 1908 in South London
South London
South London is the southern part of London, England, United Kingdom.According to the 2011 official Boundary Commission for England definition, South London includes the London boroughs of Bexley, Bromley, Croydon, Greenwich, Kingston, Lambeth, Lewisham, Merton, Southwark, Sutton and...
, the son of the Lloyd's
Lloyd's of London
Lloyd's, also known as Lloyd's of London, is a British insurance and reinsurance market. It serves as a partially mutualised marketplace where multiple financial backers, underwriters, or members, whether individuals or corporations, come together to pool and spread risk...
insurance broker who invented rain insurance: The Jupiter Pluvius policy. James Kenward received his prep school education at Ripple Vale School near Deal
Deal, Kent
Deal is a town in Kent England. It lies on the English Channel eight miles north-east of Dover and eight miles south of Ramsgate. It is a former fishing, mining and garrison town...
in Kent
Kent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
until entering Brighton College
Brighton College
Brighton College is an institution divided between a Senior School known simply as Brighton College, the Prep School and the Pre-Prep School. All of these schools are co-educational independent schools in Brighton, England, sited immediately next to each another. The Senior School caters for...
in 1919. On leaving Brighton he spent three years at Lloyd's in his father’s footsteps before taking up writing full-time, at the age of twenty. His first novel for adults, John and David, a story of feuding brothers, was published by Peter Davies in 1931. This was followed by the fantasy Summervale in 1935, published by Constable and Co. and recounting the metamorphosis of an unassuming suburban insurance broker into a dog. The Manewood Line, a fictional account of the rise, decline and revival of Selsey
Selsey
Selsey is a seaside town and civil parish, about seven miles south of Chichester, in the Chichester District of West Sussex, England. Selsey lies at the southernmost point of the Manhood Peninsula, almost cut off from mainland Sussex by the sea...
's branch line and Kenward’s last novel for adults (described as "A Romance" on the fly-leaves of later books), was published by Stanley Paul in 1937. Kenward’s next book, The Roof-Tree, can be classed loosely as a work on architecture and was first published in 1938: it was reissued in The Oxford Bookshelf series in 1941. This was the first book that Kenward illustrated himself, apart from a few maps drawn for The Manewood Line.
At the age of 40, James Kenward trained at the Ruskin School of Drawing and Fine Art in order to illustrate his own books. He was a skilled landscape draughtsman, making particularly fine drawings of trees, and many watercolour paintings.
James Kenward held strong pacifist views, however he served as a gunner in the Second World War
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...
during which time he made many pen and wash drawings of army life. During the push of the Allied forces into Germany in 1944-45, he gave courses in Fine Art
Fine art
Fine art or the fine arts encompass art forms developed primarily for aesthetics and/or concept rather than practical application. Art is often a synonym for fine art, as employed in the term "art gallery"....
to fellow soldiers. Whilst representing the family during the terminal illness of one of his sisters in Lausanne
Lausanne
Lausanne is a city in Romandy, the French-speaking part of Switzerland, and is the capital of the canton of Vaud. The seat of the district of Lausanne, the city is situated on the shores of Lake Geneva . It faces the French town of Évian-les-Bains, with the Jura mountains to its north-west...
in witzerland]), and whilst also attending local art classes, he met his future wife in 1933. They produced four children: In 1941, 1943, and twins in 1954.
James Kenward’s first publication after the War was Prince Foamytail (published by Comyns in 1946), a book for children developing material drawn from Summervale, and again self-illustrated. He followed this with the autobiographical The Suburban Child (1955), illustrated by Edward Ardizzone
Edward Ardizzone
Edward Jeffrey Irving Ardizzone, CBE, RA was an English artist, writer and illustrator, chiefly of children's books.-Early life:...
and published by Cambridge University Press
Cambridge University Press
Cambridge University Press is the publishing business of the University of Cambridge. Granted letters patent by Henry VIII in 1534, it is the world's oldest publishing house, and the second largest university press in the world...
. Its sequel, Prep School, was published by Michael Joseph in 1958 and illustrated by Christopher Brooker. Kenward’s last two books, for children, were The Market Train Mystery and The Story of the Poor Author, both published by Nisbet in 1959 - and illustrated by Kenward himself. James Kenward died in 1994 (of cancer of the liver), leaving behind a substantial quantity of unpublished written material, plus many drawings and paintings.
James Kenward’s Books
- John and David (London, Peter Davies, 1931);
- Summervale (London, Constable and Co., 1935);
- The Manewood Line (London, Stanley Paul, 1937);
- The Roof-Tree (Oxford, OUP, 1938 reprinted 1941);
- Prince Foamytail (London, Comyns, 1946);
- The Suburban Child (Cambridge, CUP, 1955);
- Prep School (London, Michael Joseph, 1958 and Penguin, 1961);
- The Market Train Mystery (Welwyn, Nisbet, 1959);
- The Story of the Poor Author (Welwyn, Nisbet, 1959)
- Faber Junior Dictionary (Faber, 1964)