Stephen Winsten
Encyclopedia
Stephen Winsten was the name adopted by Samuel Weinstein, one of the 'Whitechapel Boys
' group of young Jewish men and future writers in London's East End in the years before World War I
(the others were Isaac Rosenberg
, John Rodker
and Joseph Leftwich
). In the First World War he was a conscientious objector
, and imprisoned in Bedford and Reading gaols. He is now known for his works about George Bernard Shaw
, and his life of Henry Salt
.
He married the artist Clara Birnberg
(1894–1989); they both became Quakers. She as Clare Winsten is known for some sculpture
s, including one of St. Joan
in the garden of Shaw’s house in Ayot St Lawrence
in Hertfordshire
, where Shaw and the Winstens were neighbours. Stephen and Clara's daughter Ruth Harrison
was known as a campaigner for animal rights
.
Whitechapel Boys
The Whitechapel Boys is a name given to a loose group of Anglo-Jewish writers and artists of the early 20th century. It is named after Whitechapel, which contained one of London's main Jewish settlements and from which many of its members came...
' group of young Jewish men and future writers in London's East End in the years before 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...
(the others were Isaac Rosenberg
Isaac Rosenberg
Isaac Rosenberg was an English poet of the First World War who was considered to be one of the greatest of all English war poets...
, John Rodker
John Rodker
John Rodker was a British writer, modernist poet, and publisher of some of the major modernist figures. He was born in Manchester into a Jewish immigrant family, who moved to London while he was still young.-Career:...
and Joseph Leftwich
Joseph Leftwich
Joseph Leftwich , born Joseph Lefkowitz, was a British-Jewish critic and translator into English of Yiddish literature. He is known particularly for his 1939 anthology The Golden Peacock of Yiddish poetry, and his 1957 biography of Israel Zangwill.He was one of the 'Whitechapel Boys' group of...
). In the First World War he was a conscientious objector
Conscientious objector
A conscientious objector is an "individual who has claimed the right to refuse to perform military service" on the grounds of freedom of thought, conscience, and/or religion....
, and imprisoned in Bedford and Reading gaols. He is now known for his works about George Bernard Shaw
George Bernard Shaw
George Bernard Shaw was an Irish playwright and a co-founder of the London School of Economics. Although his first profitable writing was music and literary criticism, in which capacity he wrote many highly articulate pieces of journalism, his main talent was for drama, and he wrote more than 60...
, and his life of Henry Salt
Henry Salt
Henry Salt may refer to:*Henry Stephens Salt , English writer, campaigner for social reforms, and animal rights advocate*Henry Salt...
.
He married the artist Clara Birnberg
Clara Birnberg
Clara Birnberg was an Anglo-Jewish artist, illustrator, portraitist and sculptor. After her marriage to the artist Stephen Weinstein, they changed their surname to Winsten and both became Quaker humanists.Studying at the Slade School of Fine Art between 1910 and 1912 with Isaac Rosenberg and...
(1894–1989); they both became Quakers. She as Clare Winsten is known for some sculpture
Sculpture
Sculpture is three-dimensional artwork created by shaping or combining hard materials—typically stone such as marble—or metal, glass, or wood. Softer materials can also be used, such as clay, textiles, plastics, polymers and softer metals...
s, including one of St. Joan
Joan of Arc
Saint Joan of Arc, nicknamed "The Maid of Orléans" , is a national heroine of France and a Roman Catholic saint. A peasant girl born in eastern France who claimed divine guidance, she led the French army to several important victories during the Hundred Years' War, which paved the way for the...
in the garden of Shaw’s house in Ayot St Lawrence
Ayot St Lawrence
Ayot St Lawrence is a small village and civil parish in Hertfordshire, between Harpenden and Welwyn. There are several other Ayots in the area, including Ayot Green and Ayot St Peter....
in Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England. The county town is Hertford.The county is one of the Home Counties and lies inland, bordered by Greater London , Buckinghamshire , Bedfordshire , Cambridgeshire and...
, where Shaw and the Winstens were neighbours. Stephen and Clara's daughter Ruth Harrison
Ruth Harrison
Ruth Harrison was a leading British animal welfare activist and author.In 1964 she published Animal Machines which describes intensive poultry and livestock farming. The book was said to have exposed the whole reality of intensive farming...
was known as a campaigner for animal rights
Animal rights
Animal rights, also known as animal liberation, is the idea that the most basic interests of non-human animals should be afforded the same consideration as the similar interests of human beings...
.
Works
- G.B.S. 90: Aspects of Bernard Shaw's Life and Work (1946) editor
- Days with Bernard Shaw (1948)
- Salt and His Circle (1951) preface by Shaw
- Shaw's Corner (1952)
- Jesting Apostle: The Private Life of Bernard Shaw (1956)