William Emrys Williams
Encyclopedia
Bill Williams was Editor-in-Chief
of Penguin Books
from 1936 to 1965 and powerhouse of popular education in the 20th century. [1]
A close collaborator with Allen Lane
, Penguin's founder, for over thirty years, he was the cultural force behind Penguin Books' success. Creator of the Pelican imprint, he was devoted to lifelong learning
and cultural democracy.
In 1934 he set up the Arts for the People scheme, taking fine art
to gallery-less towns.
During the Second World War
he insisted - despite controversy - on the right to education for servicemen and women, and ran the Army Bureau of Current Affairs
.
In 1940 Williams was instrumental in establishing CEMA
, the Committee for the Encouragement of Music and the Arts.
From 1951 to 1963 Williams was Secretary-General of its successor, the Arts Council
.
A regular broadcaster, he was talks critic of The Listener, radio critic of The Observer and television critic of the New Statesman.
He gained a CBE and knighthood.
Williams had a turbulent personal life combining a happy marriage to the economist Gertrude Rosenblum and a passionate 15-year relationship with Estrid Bannister - 'the Naughtiest Girl of the Century'. His secretary, Joy Lyons, burned his memoirs before taking her own life, the night after his death.
According to the back cover of "A Book of English Essays" that he edited: "W. E. Williams, C.B.E., who has edited this selection of English Essays, has had a close connexion with many enterprises in popular education. Thus in 1934 he initiated the 'Art for the People' plan which a few years later stimulated the formation of the Arts Council. During the war he created the Army Bureau of Current Affairs (A B C A) and subsequently under the auspices of the Carnegie Trust, transformed it for peace-time uses into the Bureau of Current Affairs. He was for several years the Radio Critic of The Observer and Television critic of The New Statesman, and, before he took to criticism, was himself a successful broadcaster and televiser. He is now Secretary-General of the Arts Council of Great Britain and a Trustee of the National Gallery." [2]
[1] Sander Meredeen: The Man Who Made Penguins. The Life of Sir William Emrys Williams, Stroud, Gloucestershire: Darien-Jones Publishing, 2008. ISBN 978-1-902487-03-8.
[2] Williams, W. E. (Ed.) 'A Book of English Essays'. A Pelican Book published by Penguin Books. First published 1942. Reprinted 1954.
Editor in chief
An editor-in-chief is a publication's primary editor, having final responsibility for the operations and policies. Additionally, the editor-in-chief is held accountable for delegating tasks to staff members as well as keeping up with the time it takes them to complete their task...
of Penguin Books
Penguin Books
Penguin Books is a publisher founded in 1935 by Sir Allen Lane and V.K. Krishna Menon. Penguin revolutionised publishing in the 1930s through its high quality, inexpensive paperbacks, sold through Woolworths and other high street stores for sixpence. Penguin's success demonstrated that large...
from 1936 to 1965 and powerhouse of popular education in the 20th century. [1]
A close collaborator with Allen Lane
Allen Lane
Sir Allen Lane was a British publisher who founded Penguin Books, bringing high quality paperback fiction and non-fiction to the mass market.-Early life and family:...
, Penguin's founder, for over thirty years, he was the cultural force behind Penguin Books' success. Creator of the Pelican imprint, he was devoted to lifelong learning
Lifelong learning
Lifelong learning is the continuous building of skills and knowledge throughout the life of an individual. It occurs through experiences encountered in the course of a lifetime...
and cultural democracy.
In 1934 he set up the Arts for the People scheme, taking 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 gallery-less towns.
During 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...
he insisted - despite controversy - on the right to education for servicemen and women, and ran the Army Bureau of Current Affairs
Army Bureau of Current Affairs
The Army Bureau of Current Affairs, or ABCA, was an organisation set up to educate and raise morale amongst British servicemen in World War II....
.
In 1940 Williams was instrumental in establishing CEMA
Arts Council of Great Britain
The Arts Council of Great Britain was a non-departmental public body dedicated to the promotion of the fine arts in Great Britain. The Arts Council of Great Britain was divided in 1994 to form the Arts Council of England , the Scottish Arts Council, and the Arts Council of Wales...
, the Committee for the Encouragement of Music and the Arts.
From 1951 to 1963 Williams was Secretary-General of its successor, the Arts Council
Arts council
An arts council is a government or private, non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the arts mainly by funding local artists, awarding prizes, and organizing events at home and abroad...
.
A regular broadcaster, he was talks critic of The Listener, radio critic of The Observer and television critic of the New Statesman.
He gained a CBE and knighthood.
Williams had a turbulent personal life combining a happy marriage to the economist Gertrude Rosenblum and a passionate 15-year relationship with Estrid Bannister - 'the Naughtiest Girl of the Century'. His secretary, Joy Lyons, burned his memoirs before taking her own life, the night after his death.
According to the back cover of "A Book of English Essays" that he edited: "W. E. Williams, C.B.E., who has edited this selection of English Essays, has had a close connexion with many enterprises in popular education. Thus in 1934 he initiated the 'Art for the People' plan which a few years later stimulated the formation of the Arts Council. During the war he created the Army Bureau of Current Affairs (A B C A) and subsequently under the auspices of the Carnegie Trust, transformed it for peace-time uses into the Bureau of Current Affairs. He was for several years the Radio Critic of The Observer and Television critic of The New Statesman, and, before he took to criticism, was himself a successful broadcaster and televiser. He is now Secretary-General of the Arts Council of Great Britain and a Trustee of the National Gallery." [2]
[1] Sander Meredeen: The Man Who Made Penguins. The Life of Sir William Emrys Williams, Stroud, Gloucestershire: Darien-Jones Publishing, 2008. ISBN 978-1-902487-03-8.
[2] Williams, W. E. (Ed.) 'A Book of English Essays'. A Pelican Book published by Penguin Books. First published 1942. Reprinted 1954.