Philip Lindsay
Encyclopedia
Philip Lindsay was an Australia
n writer, who mostly wrote historical novel
s. He was the son of Norman Lindsay
, an Australia
n artist. He moved to England in the 1930s and most of his novels were written there. His daughter Cressida also became a novelist.
His novels often treated his subject matter in a dark fashion, with his central characters depicted as brooding, depressed, or disturbed characters. They include:-
He also wrote highly sympathetic biographies of Richard III of England
(The Tragic King) and of Henry V of England
.
In addition, he did some work for the film industry. He was one of a team of writers on Song of Freedom
and Under the Red Robe
, and was a technical advisor on The Private Life of Henry VIII
.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n writer, who mostly wrote historical novel
Historical novel
According to Encyclopædia Britannica, a historical novel is-Development:An early example of historical prose fiction is Luó Guànzhōng's 14th century Romance of the Three Kingdoms, which covers one of the most important periods of Chinese history and left a lasting impact on Chinese culture.The...
s. He was the son of Norman Lindsay
Norman Lindsay
Norman Alfred William Lindsay was an Australian artist, sculptor, writer, editorial cartoonist, scale modeler, and boxer. He was born in Creswick, Victoria....
, an Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n artist. He moved to England in the 1930s and most of his novels were written there. His daughter Cressida also became a novelist.
His novels often treated his subject matter in a dark fashion, with his central characters depicted as brooding, depressed, or disturbed characters. They include:-
- The Devil and King John, influenced by Margaret MurrayMargaret MurrayMargaret Alice Murray was a prominent British Egyptologist and anthropologist. Primarily known for her work in Egyptology, which was "the core of her academic career," she is also known for her propagation of the Witch-cult hypothesis, the theory that the witch trials in the Early Modern period of...
's The Divine King in England, according to which JohnJohn of EnglandJohn , also known as John Lackland , was King of England from 6 April 1199 until his death...
had leanings towards the "Old Religion" of witchcraftWitchcraftWitchcraft, in historical, anthropological, religious, and mythological contexts, is the alleged use of supernatural or magical powers. A witch is a practitioner of witchcraft...
, and his first wife Hadwisa was an actual witch. However its treatment of the better-established facts of John's reign, although ambiguous, was more sympathetic to John than most accounts. Archbishop Stephen LangtonStephen LangtonStephen Langton was Archbishop of Canterbury between 1207 and his death in 1228 and was a central figure in the dispute between King John of England and Pope Innocent III, which ultimately led to the issuing of Magna Carta in 1215...
is an important character who is treated relatively sympathetically.
- One Dagger for Two, about Christopher MarloweChristopher MarloweChristopher Marlowe was an English dramatist, poet and translator of the Elizabethan era. As the foremost Elizabethan tragedian, next to William Shakespeare, he is known for his blank verse, his overreaching protagonists, and his mysterious death.A warrant was issued for Marlowe's arrest on 18 May...
. In this account Marlowe is an atheist, but heterosexual. He was stabbed in a tavern quarrel, but over a dispute about a woman, not just a petty dispute over the bill.
- They Have Their Dreams, about Perkin WarbeckPerkin WarbeckPerkin Warbeck was a pretender to the English throne during the reign of King Henry VII of England. By claiming to be Richard of Shrewsbury, Duke of York, the younger son of King Edward IV, one of the Princes in the Tower, Warbeck was a significant threat to the newly established Tudor Dynasty,...
, claims that Warbeck was really the illegitimate son of Margaret of YorkMargaret of YorkMargaret of York – also by marriage known as Margaret of Burgundy – was Duchess of Burgundy as the third wife of Charles the Bold and acted as a protector of the Duchy after his death. She was a daughter of Richard Plantagenet, 3rd Duke of York, and Cecily Neville, and the sister of...
and a clergyman.
- The Little Wench, about Sir Lancelot and Queen GuinevereGuinevereGuinevere was the legendary queen consort of King Arthur. In tales and folklore, she was said to have had a love affair with Arthur's chief knight Sir Lancelot...
.
- Here Comes the King, about Catherine HowardCatherine HowardCatherine Howard , also spelled Katherine, Katheryn or Kathryn, was the fifth wife of Henry VIII of England, and sometimes known by his reference to her as his "rose without a thorn"....
, Henry VIII's fifth wife.
- The Merry Mistress, about Jane ShoreJane ShoreElizabeth "Jane" Shore was one of the many mistresses of King Edward IV of England, the first of the three whom he described respectively as "the merriest, the wiliest, and the holiest harlots" in his realm...
, mistress of Edward IV.
He also wrote highly sympathetic biographies of Richard III of England
Richard III of England
Richard III was King of England for two years, from 1483 until his death in 1485 during the Battle of Bosworth Field. He was the last king of the House of York and the last of the Plantagenet dynasty...
(The Tragic King) and of Henry V of England
Henry V of England
Henry V was King of England from 1413 until his death at the age of 35 in 1422. He was the second monarch belonging to the House of Lancaster....
.
In addition, he did some work for the film industry. He was one of a team of writers on Song of Freedom
Song of Freedom (film)
Song of Freedom is a 1936 British film starring Paul Robeson.One of two elements pivotal to the plot is an opera composer named Gabriel Donizetti, presumably suggested by the historical opera composer Gaetano Donizetti...
and Under the Red Robe
Under the Red Robe
Under the Red Robe is an 1894 historical novel by Stanley J. Weyman, described as his best known book and greatest success. It is set in seventeenth-century France during the ascendency of Cardinal Richelieu, who appears as a character in the novel...
, and was a technical advisor on The Private Life of Henry VIII
The Private Life of Henry VIII
The Private Life of Henry VIII is a 1933 film about Henry VIII, King of England. It was written by Lajos Biró and Arthur Wimperis, and directed by Sir Alexander Korda.Charles Laughton won the 1933 Academy Award as Best Actor for his performance as Henry...
.
External links
- bookstore entry
- some information on Here Comes the King
- entry at IMDB