Selwyn Jepson
Encyclopedia
Selwyn Jepson was a British
author
, of the Far House, Farther Common
, Liss
, Hants.
His father was the mystery/detective author Edgar Alfred Jepson (1863–1938), his mother was Frieda Holmes, daughter of the musician Henry Holmes. His sister Margaret (1907–2003; see the Times obituary http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/obituaries/article1070453.ece), also a novelist, was the mother of Fay Weldon
.
Jepson was schooled at St. Paul's School, London and the Sorbonne
. He served in the Tank Corps during World War I
and in the Special Operations Executive
, SOE, in World War II
.
In his SOE role, "Captain" Selwyn Jepson was recruiting officer for F section, the independent French section. As a recruiter he was one of SOE's "most skilled craftsmen" (see Foot, below), and according to (??) he was SOE's senior recruiting officer. When interviewed by the Imperial War Museum
he stated:
M.R.D. Foot's SOE contains an illuminating account of Jepson's interview style with potential recruits; "I have to decide whether I can risk your life and you have to decide whether you're willing to risk it" (p. 73). According to Foot, of F section's 470 agents sent into the field, 117 were killed; 39 of the 470 were women, of whom 13 failed to return.
As an aside Foot comments that captain, RN was a rank Jepson sometimes affected but to which he was not entitled ("...but the Admiralty never knew"), rather he was "a major in the Buffs" (evidently the East Kent Regiment, see e.g. http://www.ww1photos.com/EastKentRegt.html). This may or may not square with references to service in the Tanks Corps; in any case it's indicative of Jepson's personal style.
film Stage Fright
(1950) was based on Selwyn Jepson’s novel Man Running
(also published as Outrun the Constable and Killer by Proxy). It was adapted for the screen by Whitfield Cook and Hitchcock’s wife and frequent collaborator Alma Reville
, with additional dialog by James Bridie
and Ranald MacDougall
.
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...
author
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
, of the Far House, Farther Common
Farther Common
Farther Common is a geographical region of East Hampshire in the Parish of Liss, Hampshire, England. It is characterised by greensand topography, woodland and heath, which was a common on the Money-Coutts estate centred at Stodham House, Liss....
, Liss
Liss
Liss is a village and civil parish in the East Hampshire district of Hampshire, England. It is 3.3 miles northeast of Petersfield, on the A3 road, on the Hampshire/West Sussex border....
, Hants.
His father was the mystery/detective author Edgar Alfred Jepson (1863–1938), his mother was Frieda Holmes, daughter of the musician Henry Holmes. His sister Margaret (1907–2003; see the Times obituary http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/obituaries/article1070453.ece), also a novelist, was the mother of Fay Weldon
Fay Weldon
Fay Weldon CBE is an English author, essayist and playwright, whose work has been associated with feminism. In her fiction, Weldon typically portrays contemporary women who find themselves trapped in oppressive situations caused by the patriarchal structure of British society.-Biography:Weldon was...
.
Jepson was schooled at St. Paul's School, London and the Sorbonne
Sorbonne
The Sorbonne is an edifice of the Latin Quarter, in Paris, France, which has been the historical house of the former University of Paris...
. He served in the Tank Corps during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
and in the Special Operations Executive
Special Operations Executive
The Special Operations Executive was a World War II organisation of the United Kingdom. It was officially formed by Prime Minister Winston Churchill and Minister of Economic Warfare Hugh Dalton on 22 July 1940, to conduct guerrilla warfare against the Axis powers and to instruct and aid local...
, SOE, in 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 his SOE role, "Captain" Selwyn Jepson was recruiting officer for F section, the independent French section. As a recruiter he was one of SOE's "most skilled craftsmen" (see Foot, below), and according to (??) he was SOE's senior recruiting officer. When interviewed by the Imperial War Museum
Imperial War Museum
Imperial War Museum is a British national museum organisation with branches at five locations in England, three of which are in London. The museum was founded during the First World War in 1917 and intended as a record of the war effort and sacrifice of Britain and her Empire...
he stated:
- "I was responsible for recruiting women for the work, in the face of a good deal of opposition, I may say, from the powers that be. In my view, women were very much better than men for the work. Women, as you must know, have a far greater capacity for cool and lonely courage than men. Men usually want a mate with them. Men don't work alone, their lives tend to be always in company with other men. There was opposition from most quarters until it went up to ChurchillWinston ChurchillSir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill, was a predominantly Conservative British politician and statesman known for his leadership of the United Kingdom during the Second World War. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest wartime leaders of the century and served as Prime Minister twice...
, whom I had met before the war. He growled at me, "What are you doing?" I told him and he said, "I see you are using women to do this," and I said, "Yes, don't you think it is a very sensible thing to do?" and he said, "Yes, good luck to you." That was my authority!"
M.R.D. Foot's SOE contains an illuminating account of Jepson's interview style with potential recruits; "I have to decide whether I can risk your life and you have to decide whether you're willing to risk it" (p. 73). According to Foot, of F section's 470 agents sent into the field, 117 were killed; 39 of the 470 were women, of whom 13 failed to return.
As an aside Foot comments that captain, RN was a rank Jepson sometimes affected but to which he was not entitled ("...but the Admiralty never knew"), rather he was "a major in the Buffs" (evidently the East Kent Regiment, see e.g. http://www.ww1photos.com/EastKentRegt.html). This may or may not square with references to service in the Tanks Corps; in any case it's indicative of Jepson's personal style.
Author
He was a well known mystery/detective author and screenwriter, best known for Keep Murder Quiet (1940), the "Eve Gill" ingénue sleuth novel series, and other non-series novels:- The Qualified Adventurer (1922)
- Puppets of Fate (1922)
- Golden-Eyes (1922), US title The Sutton Papers
- That Fellow MacArthur (1923)
- The King's Red-Haired Girl (1923)
- Rogues and Diamonds (1925)
- Snaggletooth (1926)
- The Death Gong (1927)
- Love and Helen (1928)
- Tiger Dawn (1929)
- I Met Murder (1930)
- Rabbit's Paw (1932) US title The Mystery of the Rabbit's Paw
- Heads and Tails (1933) short story collection
- Love in Peril (1934)
- The Wise Fool (1934)
- Riviera Love Story (1948)
- Tempering Steel (1949)
- Man Dead (1951)
- The Assassin (1956)
- A Noise in the Night (1957)
- The Third Possibility (1965)
- The Angry Millionaire (1968)
- Letter to a Dead Girl (1971)
Screenwriter and Director
As screenwriter and director he is known for :- The Red Dress (1954) screenwriter
- The Last Moment (1954) screenwriter
- Forever My Heart (1954) screenwriter
- Sailing Along (1938) screenwriter
- Toilers of the SeaToilers of the SeaToilers of the Sea , is a novel by Victor Hugo.The book is dedicated to the island of Guernsey, where Hugo spent 15 years in exile.The story concerns a Guernseyman named Gilliatt, a social outcast who falls in love with Deruchette, the niece of a local shipowner, Mess Lethierry...
(1936) director, screenwriter - Wrath of Jealousy (1936) screenwriter
- The Scarab Murder Case (1936) screenwriter
- Kiss Me Goodbye (1935) screenwriter
- Hyde Park Corner (1935) screenwriter
- The Love Test (1935) screenwriter
- The Riverside Murder (1935) screenwriter
- Money Mad (1934) screenwriter
- For Love of You (1933) screenwriter
Film adaptation
The Alfred HitchcockAlfred Hitchcock
Sir Alfred Joseph Hitchcock, KBE was a British film director and producer. He pioneered many techniques in the suspense and psychological thriller genres. After a successful career in British cinema in both silent films and early talkies, Hitchcock moved to Hollywood...
film Stage Fright
Stage Fright (film)
Stage Fright is a 1950 British crime film directed and produced by Alfred Hitchcock starring Jane Wyman, Marlene Dietrich, Michael Wilding and Richard Todd...
(1950) was based on Selwyn Jepson’s novel Man Running
Man Running
Man Running is a thriller short story by Selwyn Jepson. The story involves a drama student who tries to help a friend avoid being framed for murder. The Alfred Hitchcock film Stage Fright was based on this story....
(also published as Outrun the Constable and Killer by Proxy). It was adapted for the screen by Whitfield Cook and Hitchcock’s wife and frequent collaborator Alma Reville
Alma Reville
Alma Reville, Lady Hitchcock was an English assistant director, screenwriter and editor. She was the second daughter of Edward and Lucy Reville....
, with additional dialog by James Bridie
James Bridie
James Bridie was the pseudonym of a Scottish playwright, screenwriter and surgeon whose real name was Osborne Henry Mavor....
and Ranald MacDougall
Ranald MacDougall
Ranald MacDougall was an American screenwriter who scripted such films as Mildred Pierce , The Unsuspected , June Bride , and The Naked Jungle ....
.